A NEW £15.6m programme of investment in training for scientists has been announced for the Diamond Light Source, the landmark silver doughnut-shaped building near Didcot.

The new facility at Harwell Oxford science centre will provide training to cell biologists interested in researching structural cell biology, using the most innovative methods.

At the same time, the DfT has announced a £5m contribution towards a £10m scheme for new intersections at the Chilton Interchange, to improve the link on the A34 between Milton Park business centre and Harwell Oxford.

At the moment, there is only southbound access to Chilton village and a northbound exit but the scheme will create a four-way interchange to ease the situation.

Stewart Lilly, county councillor for Hendreds and Harwell, said: “The Government is providing £5m towards a £10m scheme to improve the Chilton Interchange.

“As far as I am aware, Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, a government-backed organisation, would be in charge of the rest of the funding.’’ Construction work is expected to start in the new year for the new facility, which will stand outside the doughnut.

The facility is being funded by a grant from the Wellcome Trust, the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

It is not yet known how many new jobs the new facility will create.