WORK on the £7 million third phase of Malvern Hills Science Park began this week.

A new state-of-the-art building, set for completion in early 2007, will create around 130 jobs and provide 44,000 sq ft of accommodation for technology companies.

The building will use pioneering natural energy technology to reduce the use of fossil fuel.

Development agency Advantage West Midlands gave £6.2million to the project.

Chairman Nick Paul, who cut the first turf at the site, believes the development will help the science park success story continue.

"This will be a much-needed expansion as the first two phases are already full," he said.

Science park chairman Christine Jones said she was delighted the development was under way.