IT company Intermedia Solutions yesterday announced plans to open 50 franchises, beginning next year.

The internet company, based in Darlington, plans to deliver web development and online marketing services to small and medium-sized businesses across Britain as part of a three-year plan.

The company has invested more than £100,000 in Geo-Net Solutions and is piloting the scheme in Teesside, Sunderland and Newcastle.

Intermedia managing director Peter Bulloch said the scheme would run until Christmas and envisaged that by next year, it would be opening an office each month.

"We will be opening 50 franchises right across the UK, creating about two jobs in each office," he said.

Two jobs have already been created in Darlington.

Antony Lewis, director of web development, will be leading the Geo-Net Solutions brand and looking for franchisees. He said the computer software Geo-Net Solutions will be offering businesses has already been developed in-house.

"The pilot scheme will enable us to tweak the software product until it is just right. Then we can start looking for people with sales and marketing experience to work as franchisees to basically sell the product to their own clients," he said.

Intermedia, which delivers web consultancy, design and development services, has grown each year and recently secured a number of deals that will double its Darlington workforce to 24.

Mr Bulloch said: "The industry as a whole is booming. We started ten years ago and so we have a depth and breadth of experience."

Darlington MP Alan Milburn visited the company yesterday to mark the launch of the new business and celebrate Intermedia's ten-year anniversary.