A NORTH-EAST public relations and marketing consultancy, Karol Marketing, yesterday announced details of a new £500,000 quayside development to house its growing business.

Work has started on transforming the former Fighting Cocks pub, on a site over looking the River Tyne.

Close to the company's present offices in the Ouseburn Business Centre, the premises occupy a prime location at the edge of Ouseburn Valley which has been earmarked as a key area for sensitive regeneration bordering Newcastle's central business district.

Managing director Stefan Lepkowski, said: "Karol Marketing has reached the point where we needed to expand, but couldn't in our current surroundings.

"The Fighting Cocks is a very prominent feature overlooking the quayside, and, by moving across the road we can double our staff and increase the amount of work we can take on."