A town's vision for a new enterprise zone has moved a step closer after funding was approved for a crucial roundabout.

A road redesign will go ahead on Croxton Road in Thetford after the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) allocated £1.98m for the project.

The roundabout is believed by many to be a lynch pin in plans for the Thetford Enterprise Park (TEP).

The LEP's donation had already been agreed as part of the Thetford Transport Package, but during a meeting last month members agreed the roundabout should be prioritised to improve access to the town's planned enterprise park and the town centre.

The Greater Thetford Development Partnership (GTDP), which has been spearheading the TEP project with Breckland Council, had previously highlighted transport as one of its primary concerns.

Terry Jermy, Mayor of Thetford and GTDP board member, said: 'The fact that this has been agreed makes the enterprise park more deliverable.

'Given that it will create 1,500 jobs in Thetford, it is something there is wide support for.

'Power remains the big issue, but the fact that we have managed to get the funding for the roundabout secured is a big advantage.'

Norfolk county and Thetford town councillor Denis Crawford, who also sits on the GTDP board, said: 'It is one of the things we really needed the LEP to come forward with so I'm extremely happy that they have done so, because it will allow us to push forward with the TEP.

'I was not a great supporter of the urban extension in the past, but with the TEP it makes more sense because it will allow more job opportunities and Thetford as a whole will be helped.'

The GTDP is now pushing ahead with a request to the LEP for funding to help establish utilities, including a power supply, on the enterprise park site.

The next meeting of the Greater Thetford Development Partnership will be on Friday, August 19.

A Breckland Council spokesman said district councillors are due to discuss the use of the LEP funding in the next week.