NINE new business units are set to open at an artisan village in north Lancashire.

They will consist of six small 'craft' outlets and three principle retail enterprises.

Adrian Meockell, the managing director of Greenlands Village Farm, hopes that the new development will give business a boost.

"Since Brexit business has definitely slowed down," he said. "It should massively improve footfall and the management team are great."

Mr Meockell said that he expects that when all of the units are full, 20 extra people will be employed.

Fawcett's Country Sports Limited, one of the largest gunsmiths, fishing tackle and country clothing shops in the North West of England, will be moving into the largest unit.

"We have outgrown the space in Lancaster," Stephen Fawcett, director of the business said. "The new space will give people more time to browse."

Having spent the past 41 years in their current premises, Mr Fawcett is looking forward to taking up residence at Greenlands.

Selling everything from guns to fishing tackle and countryside clothing, the business caters for most country pursuits.

"Out customers will still come to us," he said. "We should be able to get a bit more trade from the fishing lakes that are just local to there."

Northern Archery will also be occupying one of the smaller units and co-owner Martin Leonard hopes that the physical presence will help business.

"It's giving ourselves a physical presence there," he said. "Social media and the website can only do so much. There is quite a lot of footfall at Greenlands."

He also believes that being on the same site as Fawcett's will be beneficial and that the businesses will complement each other.

Mr Meockell said that there are already plans in place for more development on the site. He hopes another barn will be turned into a recreational area for children.

There is no official launch date for the units but Mr Meockell hopes they will open in November.