A new used car garage which has been built on the site of a derelict pub in Bury is set to open tomorrow.

The boarded-up Derby Arms pub and the vacant Texaco petrol station were knocked down to make way for an expansion of RRG Kia, in Bolton Road.

RRG has also increased their workforce from seven to nine full-time employees as part of their £1million investment.

The firm has been involved with the town for more than 30 years, after opening its first dealership in 1978.

The firm initially bought the Elton Garage and turned it into a Toyota dealership and petrol station with 30,000 gallons of petrol a week being sold at the forecourt by 1982.

Tony Cliff, joint RRG managing director, said: “Our relationship with Bury goes back over 35 years and we are committed to our ongoing investment into this important part of RRG’s history.

“In total we now employ over 200 people in Bury and have invested more than £1million to ensure we continue to provide our trademark quality and expertise for our customers in the area.”

Planning permission for the development allowed the firm to expand its showroom floor space by 80 square metres, providing extra customer parking and a floodlit display area.

Two residents on Fairy Street raised concerns that the new development could interrupt property views, and that the additional lighting could increase the amount of light entering nearby homes. Bury Council ruled that lighting should only be operated between 6am and 8pm to reduce light pollution.

To mark the official opening of the expanded garage this weekend, the firm will offer a number of special deals.