A food factory is back in business following a four-month closure.

The former Heinz base in Westwick, near North Walsham, which closed in April, reopened this month after being bought by Scottish-based firm Albert Bartlett.

It employs about 110 people, including management, and makes frozen potato products.

Out of its current staff, 56 worked at the Heinz factory.

North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb hailed the reopening as 'fantastic' and 'exciting'.

He said: 'So often when a factory closes there is this assumption that it will be gone for good.

'To see the Albert Bartlett factory rise like a phoenix from the ashes and reopen as well as reinvest and provide job opportunities is great news for the area.'

He added it was very good that staff from the Heinz factory, which had 200 workers, had been re-employed.

'For many, it [the Heinz closure] was a big blow for families,' Mr Lamb added.

John Timewell, county councillor for North Walsham West which covers Westwick and nearby Worstead, said the reopening was upbeat for the area economic wise.

Worstead resident Mr Timewell, who is vice chairman of the council's environment, development and transport committee (EDT) which covers economic development issues, said: 'It retains another viable business premises in the area which keeps employment, which is what the council wants to do.

'I'm pleased because I'm a resident in Worstead and Albert Bartlett seems to be very professional and upbeat.'

He added the potato firm wanted to expand its trade and push business from the Westwick factory.

An Albert Bartlett spokesman said the business was investing in a number of improvements and work to do with that was ongoing.

She added: 'We are currently sourcing potatoes from our grower group. We hope to forge closer direct relationships with local producers in the future. Some of the first potatoes we have processed are from Croxton in Norfolk. The number of suppliers will increase over the next few months.'

Fiona Turner, chairman of the Regenerate North Walsham group which encourages business growth and confidence in the town and area, said: 'The resurgence of this important site and employment represents a new confidence in North Walsham.

'Our town is becoming recognised as a place of significant potential in both the commercial and residential spheres.'

Nigel Dixon, cabinet member for economic development and business on North Norfolk District Council, said the new investment would regenerate an important site and provide 'local employment for local people'.

He said: 'A year ago the future for the site and the local economy looked very bleak. However, with the prospect of up to 250 jobs, when the site reaches full production, this is a very commendable development.'

The Heinz factory used to manufacture Aunt Bessie's frozen potato products for the William Jackson Food Group but it shut because the key licence to produce those products was not renewed.

Proposals to close the factory were announced by Heinz in October last year followed by a 45-day consultation process with staff representatives.

The sale of the building and its assets to Albert Bartlett, whose Rooster brand potatoes are widely sold in UK supermarkets, was made in April.