THE minister backing the town's bid for two new bridges today signed a £158million growth deal with the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership.

Greg Clark, minister of state for universities, science and cities, carried out the procedure at University of Chester's Thornton Science Park before making his way to Daresbury Laboratory for a tour and discussions with officials from the Science and Technology Facilities Council.

The funding deal is tipped to boost development plans in Warrington and edges plans for two new crossings in the town ever closer.

The first, from Slutchers Lane to Chester Road, is due to start next year and the second, a high-level crossing over the Manchester Ship Canal, could be complete within a decade.

"The growth deal is one of the best in the country and it has a strong science element to it because Cheshire and Warrington has a great reputation for science and that reputation is growing," said Mr Clark, who was joined by Warrington South MP, David Mowat.

"There are three real themes for the deal - science, infrastructure and skills.

"The second theme for infrastructure is key as wherever people are in successful parts of the world, they need to get around.

"David has been working to get the bridges across the canal which is very important and so is getting improvements on the roads."

Council leader, Terry O'Neill, has criticised claims made by Mr Mowat on the bridge plans due to the number of processes which are yet to be passed but Mr Clark is assuring residents development will go ahead.

"It should proceed - we have been talking about it this morning and it is all systems go," he added.

"With a Conservative Government it is a certainty that it proceeds and it would be crazy for anyone to pick at what is a great deal."

Mr Mowat, who raised the bridge issue in prime minister's question to David Cameron yesterday, was also quick to calm fears over the plans.

"In theory anyone can cancel it but I don't think anyone will - it is a cross party thing and it is beneficial to a Labour council and Conservative MP," he said.

"There is no fears over it and it would not have happened without effort we have put in."