AN internet company has invested more than £5m setting up two new bases in the region that will create up to 35 jobs.

Knowledge IT, based in Washington, Wearside, is opening two data and business recovery centres, as part of its efforts to expand its disaster recovery services.

The company has increased the size of its workforce from nine people in 1991, to 65 today, and could reach 100 with the latest jobs. The first of the centres will be at North Tyneside's Silverlink Business Park, and will see the creation of several specialist technology jobs.

The second will be opened near the firm's base in Washington. The two centres will help Knowledge IT towards its target of an £8.5m turnover this year.

George Sanger, marketing and sales director at the company, said: "As a company, we are responding to growing business demands to protect against disaster.

"It's a fact that 80 per cent of businesses never recover from a disaster-level event."