A TELECOMS operator has created North-East jobs as it rolls out broadband services across the region.

Openreach says it has taken on 40 engineers and five apprentices.

The recruits are based across the region in Durham City, Darlington, Bishop Auckland, Middlesbrough, Stockton and Hartlepool.

Bosses at the firm, BT’s local network business, say the staff will help install lines, fix faults and fit fibre broadband to homes and offices.

Farooq Hakim, BT’s North- East regional director, said: “This represents another major investment and the staff are now embarking on exciting careers and making major contribution to the future success of the North East.”

BT previously created 50 jobs at its warehouse in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, which processes thousands of orders every day for items including broadband hubs and phones.

The company also took on Darlington’s largest private employer, mobile phone company EE, in a £12.5bn takeover.

Earlier this year, EE revealed it was recruiting 130 staff at its Darlington offices to oversee UK customer calls, with staff handling home broadband and pay-as-you-go services.

The company is Darlington’s largest private employer with about 1,500 posts and previously revealed plans to spend millions on new offices.