Bottling factory plans for Forest

One of Europe's biggest bottling plants could be built in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) plans to produce the bottles on site at its factory in Coleford rather than transport them by road as they do at present.

A GSK spokesman said the £50m investment would secure the future of the 500-plus jobs at the factory, which produces Ribena and Lucozade drinks.

The company would not say whether new jobs would be created.

If approved the new plant, which would be built on an area concealed from public view by the existing factory, would open by 2010.