An American electronics company has put in a bid to redevelop the Renault factory in Swindon, which has been little used since 1999.

Council leader Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town & Lawns) is delighted that the town has attracted interest from overseas.

He said: "I am absolutely delighted with the deal and I hope it is successful.

"We need foreign investment to come into this country and obviously I am doublly pleased that it is coming to Swindon.

"It shows that Swindon is a town that is identified by the international community as a good place to invest in.

"I wish them all the success for their future in Swindon."

The 226,000 sq ft, yellow tubular factory, was used by French car manufacturer Renault for its car parts distribution.

But the Spectrum building has been little used since 1999 when the firm decided to move its business to the Midlands.

Spectrum has also featured in a Bond movie and won a string of architectural awards.

Aside from a small number of art exhibitions, the building, which was designed by Millennium Dome designer Sir Norman Foster, has been laid empty since 1999.

The Chinese government had been exploring the possibility of using the building to handle exports.