A MOBILE phone operator at the centre of a takeover bid says it has welcomed a record number of customers.

EE says it added 5.7 million people to its 4G network, which delivers instant internet roaming, in 2014.

It means the firm now has 7.7 million 4G customers, beating its year-end target of six million.

The announcement comes as the company continues talks with BT following a £12.5bn bid made by the telecoms firm late last year.

BT says the move would create a larger business covering fixed-lines phones, mobiles and TV, while taking advantage of EE’s 4G coverage.

However, it added any deal would also look to reduce costs, sparking fears over potential EE back office job cuts.

EE, which runs the T-Mobile and Orange brands, is Darlington’s largest private employer with about 2,000 workers, and has further sites at Doxford, in Sunderland, and Cobalt Business Park, near Newcastle.

Darlington MP Jenny Chapman previously urged bosses not to waste its North-East staff in any BT deal.

She added: “Should the deal go ahead, we need to make sure Darlington staff are not squandered by a huge corporation that fails to recognise the skills and experience they have built up over many years.”