A NORTH-EAST security firm plans to create 100 new jobs with the “vast majority” of them at in Teesside.

Vistech Services, based in Middlesbrough, is looking to double its work force over the next 12 months having already created 100 new jobs in the last two years.

Bosses at the firm, which has its headquarters in the town’s Boho Six building, hope the increase will support expansion plans, as they look to boost turnover from £2m to £5m by 2017.

Annmarie Hope, general manager of Vistech Services, said: “We’ve doubled our turnover during the past 12 months, creating dozens of jobs across Teesside, the North-East and beyond.

“We’ve doubled our workforce too, creating dozens of jobs, the vast majority of them local.”

Vistech has provided security for the Tour de Yorkshire and the Yorkshire leg of the Tour de France, as well as Redcar Athletic’s Steel Gala and at a Rod Stewart concert at Castle Howard.

“We now have 15 staff in our Boho Six headquarters – up from just four a year ago – together with a team of more than 80 security specialists.

“We have recently taken on an apprentice and we are looking for another” added Ms Hope.

Ms Hope said the company, which also has bases in London and Aberdeen, has assured workers its headquarters will always remain on Teesside.

“Whilst we’re increasingly focused on building a strong market across the UK, we’re passionate about retaining our Teesside base, so we’ll be looking to continue to invest locally and create the bulk of our jobs locally too.”

“We’re still in the building stage of the business but we have big ambitions for Vistech Services.

“There’s certainly no reason why we can’t create another hundred jobs over the next 12 months.”

The company is also carrying out security work in Kirby Misperton in Ryedale, where permission was recently given for fracking work to begin in the area to release shale gas.

“The security industry doesn’t always enjoy the best reputation but we are setting ourselves apart as a leader in the field” said Ms Hope.

“We have some good people building the firm’s foundations, as we target an increasing number of construction sites, power companies and health services including NHS sites.”