Thousands of loaves of bread are coming off the production line at a new £45 million bakery near Severn Beach.

Warburtons, Britain's biggest family-run bakery business, has created 140 new jobs at the plant on the Western Approach Distribution Park.

Production started in December at what is the company's first bakery in the South West.

But VIPs were invited to the Govier Way site yesterday for an official opening and a tour of the factory.

The plant supplies bread to supermarkets and other shops throughout the region and to some parts of South Wales.

Company chairman Jonathan Warburton said: "This is one of our biggest investments to date.

"We only opened our Welsh bakery in Newport three years ago but we still needed more capacity to meet increasing consumer demand and ensure our products are delivered in the freshest condition possible."

General manager David Williams said: "At the moment we are producing bread only at this site but we have 12.5 acres here and just over half is in use.

"There is capacity to expand and we are looking at having further plants for bread, crumpets and bread rolls, which could see up to 300 more jobs created."

Mr Warburton said it was hoped that expansion would happen within five years but he could not say exactly when.

He said: "The market place is different now and although we are having a very good year, times are tough."

Staff already employed at the bakery include drivers, administrative staff and managers, as well as those making the bread, with most living in the Bristol area.

Nationally the company, which was set up in Bolton in 1876 by Thomas and Ellen Warburton, employs more than 4,800 people and is still run by the fifth generation of the family.

Among those invited to the official opening were some of the pupils of nearby Severn Beach Primary School and St Peter's Primary School, Pilning, who created murals of South West landmarks specially for the plant.

Elise Lancastle and Kieran Hathway, both 11, of Severn Beach Primary, were joined by 10-year-olds Emily Coote, Shiro Cox, Lewis Hendy and Ffion Parry to see a Bristol Blue plaque unveiled and a ribbon cut.