Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster has performed the official sod cutting ceremony for the new £10m extension at the Galgorm Resort and Spa in Ballymena.

The extension will include additional bedrooms and leisure facilities, including a swimming pool and gym.

Arlene Foster said: "The expansion of this already excellent facility by an ambitious and progressive hospitality group will be an important addition to the complex and the wider Northern Ireland tourism offering when it is completed next year.

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"As well as 50 full and part-time posts within the hotel complex, additional employment opportunities will be provided during the construction and outfitting stages.

"Galgorm's expansion will significantly enhance the facilities of this hotel, which is strategically placed within easy reach of major tourism areas such as Mid Antrim, Lough Neagh, the Glens of Antrim, the Antrim Coast Road and the Giant's Causeway.

"This investment at Galgorm, together with the group's planned development of The Mutual Building in Belfast into a premium boutique hotel, represent a substantial boost for Northern Ireland's tourism industry.

"Our objective is to continue to secure major global events in Northern Ireland, such as the Giro d'Italia in May, and it is essential that we have best-in-class facilities to further boost our tourism offering."

(CD/JP)