AN Internet firm based in Darlington has won several new clients, boosting employment opportunities.

Intermedia Limited is the North-East's longest established Internet firm and has recently won contracts with Siesta Travel and Niven Architects.

This success follows contract wins with Typhoon International, The Legal Warehouse and Tees Active.

The new clients will utilise web-based services and this has caused a rapid recruitment drive.

Intermedia's web development team will work with Siesta Travel, a coach and accommodation tour operator specialising in hotel and self-catering holidays to the Mediterranean, on the upgrade of its site and database.

The team's work with Niven Architects will include the redesign of its website following a period of re-branding and the renaming of the company.

Antony Lewis, head of the web development team at Intermedia, who is leading the work on both Siesta Travel and Niven Architects, said: "So far, 2005 has seen a period of immense growth for Intermedia web development.

"This means that we need to attract a wide range of skilled professionals who can work on a wide variety of unusual projects for our business.

"Intermedia is in the enviable position of being able to invest in new staff and attract some of the most technologically-skilled employees in the country."