PLANS to create 70 jobs at a former Ministry of Defence depot in Llanelli by Christmas are on target.

International blue-chip company Thales UK is leasing a third of the Llangennech site.

Welsh Rugby Union chairman David Pickering, who is one half of the business venture, which has been renamed Stradey Park Business Centre, said he was confident the Christmas date would be met.

Thales UK, which employs 8,500 staff based at more than 50 locations throughout the UK, is leasing the site from R&A Properties, which snapped up the 37-acre former MoD site for £700,000 from Carmarthenshire Council.

Mr Pickering said: "There is a tremendous amount of activity happening at the site, and a lot of money being spent in preparation and refurbishment.

Business in the Bay website

"Obviously, in terms of any other comment, that will be down to the tenants, but there is a lot of business activity happening on the site and we are confident the predictions made some time ago will be realised."

He added: "We are very positive about the future."

Thales UK's expertise ranges from retail video display systems and chip and pin technology, through to flight simulators, unmanned aircraft and even the design of warships.

In 2008, its revenues in the UK were over £1.4 billion.

Llangennech Community Council has welcomed the news. Councillors had originally believed the site would be sold for housing, but have welcomed the news a clean industry is coming to the town.

Antur Teifi, which supports people back into the workplace, has also praised the development as good news for the town and county.