A DELIVERY firm has created 40 North-East jobs after opening a distribution centre.

Panther Warehousing, which recently secured contracts worth more than £20m, has set up a 15,000sq ft warehouse and 15-strong vehicle fleet in Peterlee, east Durham.

The company, founded in 1989, employs more than 240 people across the UK, and this year expects to turnover to reach £17m.

Colin McCarthy, Panther managing director, said: “This new site will provides us with a better geographic spread, helping us to better service outlying regions.

“We will provide companies with a service that can transport a wide range of goods, including doors, large mirrors and pictures, and have invested heavily in the right people and the right equipment to give customers the ultimate service.”