Potential Middle East investors meeting MP over Shrewsbury's Flaxmill

Daniel Kawczynski's meeting with potential investors comes after he has already shown a Chinese delegation around the site.

The interest has been welcomed after a project to overhaul the Grade I listed building hit trouble as anticipated costs rose beyond the original £25 million estimate and contractors pulled out.

Mr Kawczynski took Chinese businessmen round the site on Friday in the hope of attracting cash for the long-delayed regeneration of the site.

He believes more interest will follow in the coming weeks.

The visit included a meeting with English Heritage, who took over the project from Shropshire Council several months ago.

Mr Kawczynski said: "I took Chinese investors round the site and I think they were very impressed.

"There is lots of positivity at the moment and that can only be a good thing for the future of the project.

"I'm determined this project will get off the ground as soon as possible."

If Chinese businessmen do invest in the site, it would strengthen links between the county and China following a trade mission led by former Mayor Jon Tandy in March.

Several Shropshire companies visited the country and Shrewsbury and Changshu are now sister towns.

Mr Kawczynski hopes investors will work with English Heritage.

He said: "Any investor has to have the full confidence of English Heritage.

"I am very encouraged by work already going on at the Flaxmill and that English Heritage are seeking additional private investment and that is something I fully support."

Alan Mosley, chairman of the Friends of the Flaxmill group, said any investment should be welcomed.

He said: "It's encouraging news and we are very hopeful that something good may come of it."

The original plans for the historic Grade I-listed building are currently being revised.

The scheme needs to be completed by the end of December 2015 in order to get £6.64 million in European Regional Development Fund cash.

That money was approved to support the project in August last year.

But a condition of the award means it must be spent by June 2015, with the programme of works connected with it delivered by December 31, 2015.