INCREASING numbers of small and medium sized businesses are looking for new office space in towns such as Thornbury.

Office sector specialist Paul Williams of Bruton Knowles said they were seeking premises on the northern fringe of Bristol and South Gloucestershire, including those with under 2,000 sq ft of floor space.

Mr Williams said: "The out-of-town sector has seen a return of large headline-grabbing deals in 2014, with a number of transactions of 20,000 sq ft or more during the course of last year, but there has also been a strong resurgence of activity at the smaller end of the market.

“Ease of access to the region’s motorway network is a prime consideration, offering staff an opportunity to work around the jams rather than having to fight their way through to the city centre."

He said better parking was also an advantage.