Two hi-tech firms are expected to recruit more than 200 extra people with moves to the new Oxford Industrial Park at Yarnton, writes David Duffy.

JDS Uniphase, which is based at Witney, has taken over five units for manufacturing new fibre-optic equipment for the telecommunications and cable TV industries.

The firm, which has about 20,000 employees in 11 countries worldwide, is expecting to create up to 200 additional jobs at its new base over the next 12 months.

The second company is superconducting magnet maker Magnex Scientific, which has been based in Abingdon for 16 years. It is creating 20 jobs.

Magnex, which is based at the Abingdon Business Park, makes pioneering human magnetic resonance imaging and scientific research systems.

The clinical businesses has now been sold to IGE Medical Systems and the scientific business will continue as Magnex Scientific. It plans to build a 50,000 sq ft magnet manufacturing plant at Yarnton.

Commercial manager Dr Simon Pittard said worldwide demand for the firm's magnets had reached a record level.

He said: "We are sorry to leave Abingdon but we just ran out of space. The new plant will enable us to build a brand new, state-of-the-art manufacturing complex that will be world class.

"With the majority of the world's magnet design and manufacturing facilities being based in and around Oxford, the area is rapidly becoming known as 'magnet valley'."

Letting agents FPD Savills and Jones Lang LaSalle advised developers Brixton Estates, which developed the park on the former Southern Electric site, just off the A44 at Yarnton.