Champagne corks aplenty were popped to celebrate the 45th anniversary of a Shropshire town business and industrial park.

Stanmore Industrial Estate, the 40-acre commercial and industrial centre located on the edge of Bridgnorth, celebrated the milestone with a reception attended by more than 100 guests, including current tenants and long standing business associates.

Estate founder Jeff Hickman, now 83, began the venture by snapping up five lots of land at an auction by estate agents, Nock Deighton, held at the Swan Hotel in Bridgnorth in November 1964. The site has since grown into one of the largest industrial parks in the area.

The celebration was organised by Mr Hickman’s sons Stewart and Mitchel, who now manage the estate.

“The reception was well attended and a huge success. It was a pleasure to be able to say thank you to so many tenants and also to the numerous key people who have contributed to the development of Stanmore into the successful industrial estate that it is today,” said Stewart.

“This represented a major milestone and gave us an opportunity to not only celebrate the past but also look to the future – it was a chance to share some of the innovative ideas we have for both Stanmore and business enterprise in Bridgnorth.

“As a family company we have strived to put Bridgnorth firmly on the UK business map. Stanmore was conceived 45 years ago out of the former RAF station and developed into a thriving industrial estate – and we continue to promote business enterprise across the region today.

“I was very pleased that the tone of our reception was very positive, there is so much confidence in potential business development – we are fighting the recession and Stanmore Industrial Estate is firmly committed to investing in Bridgnorth’s commercial future.”

Guests included Robin Nettleton, who was present at the auction in 1964, representing Nock Deighton as its senior partner, and various dignitaries.