There has been a widespread welcome in Derry to the news that the American owned industrial company Du Pont (UK) is to expand Lycra production at its plant in Maydown on the outskirts of the city.

Work on the £78 million sterling development, which will create 100 new jobs as well as up to 200 jobs during the construction phase, will start during the autumn and company executives hope production will start within two years.

The Maydown plant competed against three other Du Pont plants in the Netherlands, Spain and Singapore for the development. The company's European director of Lycra, Mr Dieter Siegel, said while there was little between the four competitors in terms of cost competitiveness, the Derry workforce had something extra to offer.

"They have all produced Lycra, they all know the technology, that's all very important. But for me the deciding point is the people. For me the people in Derry are the most dedicated people we have in our Lycra organisation. If you walk through the plant and talk to our technicians, they are the owners of the machines. They own Lycra, they own the process and that makes the difference," he said.