SOFTWARE and computer services group Access Intelligence yesterday posted a surge in profits and said it was optimistic about the year ahead.

The York company revealed that pre-tax profit for the year to November 30 came in at £246,000, compared with losses of £26,000 in 2005, while turnover climbed 89 per cent to £3.67m.

Access Intelligence, which also operates from an office in Newcastle, said its compliance software division and its data storage retrieval business made good progress.

Its compliance software and services division successfully completed the acquisition of Management Services 2000 Limited in the year and secured large contracts working with local authorities in the North-East and South-East.

Access Intelligence wants is planning to expand by securing work with other local authorities, government agencies and hospital trusts.

Chief executive Brendan Austin said: "We are actually tendering for another large contract in another part of the UK at the moment."

Access Intelligence employs 52 staff, 14 in sales and 15 in product development, and also has offices in Chorley and Stockport.