A grant package worth more than �16m has been pledged to a tourism village project which aims to make Pembrokeshire a world class tourist destination.

The money given to the Bluestone scheme will come from the Welsh Assembly and four other public agencies.

Wales Tourist Board Chairman Philip Evans: Huge boost

The development aims to provide an all-year round tourism attraction - similar to the Center Parcs resorts - near Narberth.

The adventure holiday park is expected to cost �45m to build, and create 600 jobs.

Plans for the scheme are yet to be submitted to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and the county council.

They should be handed in by the end the month.

If approved, it is hoped the 500-acre project will open in two years time, bringing a wave of new tourists to the area.

The assembly has said the attraction would provide a showcase for the Welsh tourism industry.

Announcing the grant, Welsh Economic Development Minister Andrew Davies said the project was of "the highest quality".

"This demonstrates our determination to build the local economy and help local entrepreneurs develop quality jobs and business opportunities in the area."

The village will include an indoor ski slope

Mr Davies added it would help showcase Pembrokeshire as a world class tourist destination.

"It will be a real shot in the arm for the whole economy of west Wales," he said.

Wales Tourist Board Chairman Philip Evans said the village would have a beneficial effect for other businesses in the area.

"Tourism is the lead employer in many parts of Wales, and the Bluestone project will contribute hundreds of year-round jobs in south west Wales," he said.

"It will be of huge benefit to the wider tourism community, which is comprised mainly of small partnership companies."

Planning

The �16.5m support package announced on Wednesday is made up of �10m from the assembly.

The Welsh Development Agency will provide �3m, and there will also be a �2m loan arranged by Finance Wales and �1.5m from the Wales Tourist Board.

The man behind the Bluestone scheme is Pembrokeshire businessman William McNamara, who was also behind the hugely-successful Oakwood theme park nearby.

Mr McNamara stepped down as Oakwood's managing director this season to concentrate on his new project.