Center Parcs Woburn Forest is officially opened

Center Parcs Woburn Forest resort will cater for 350,000 guests a year

A £250m Center Parcs resort in Bedfordshire will pump £20m a year into the local economy, the company claims.

The holiday firm said most of its 1,500 employees at its newly-opened Woburn Forest village in Warren Wood would live within 15 minutes of the centre.

The site of the new park was previously used for commercial forestry.

Mid Beds District Council refused permission for the project in 2006 but Center Parcs successfully appealed against that decision.

About 1,200 people were employed in the resort's construction

Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce said the new attraction would mean "local people will have money in their pockets".

Center Parc's chief executive, Martin Dalby, said the resort will cater for 350,000 guests a year.