United Biscuits owns some of the UK's best known brands

UB is investing �10m at its site in Harlesden - already the biggest biscuit factory in Europe producing 75,000 tonnes of the food a year.

The London West Learning and Skills Council has promised �1.1m to support a training programme at the site.

The company said it would specifically target local people for recruitment.

UB owns some of Europe's best known biscuits and snack brands, including Penguin, Jaffa Cakes and Hula Hoops.

'Centre of Excellence'

Production at the McVitie's site in Harlesden is expected to rise to 100,000 tonnes a year with the introduction of Mini Cheddars and Hob Nobs.

The London Development Agency (LDA), which is contributing �200,000 in investment, said the expansion would bring jobs to one of London's most deprived areas.

Unemployment was about 9%, it said, well above the London average.

UB's manufacturing director Mark Thorpe said: "With 100 years of history in Harlesden, UB is committed to the local area and the development of its workforce at the site.

"We believe the investment will eventually lead to Harlesden being recognised as a Food Manufacturing Centre of Excellence, providing a framework of training which could be accessed by other food manufacturers in the area."

The LDA said the food and drink industry was the best performing manufacturing sector in London's economy in recent years, employing more than 31,000 people.

The number of people working in the sector has risen by 30% since 1995.