BATHROOM design company Premier Living has plans to expand across the North-East - even before opening its first showroom.

The small business, which has been operating for less than a year, has plans to grow quickly by adding six members of staff to its current two-strong workforce.

Premier Living, which expects its first-year turnover to be in the region of £480,000 due to strong internet sales, is also preparing to open its first store, in Middlesbrough in September, after a £100,000 investment.

Director Denis Shail, who set up the Stockton-based firm with business partner Andrew Wetherell, has plans to establish Premier Living showrooms at venues across the region.

"We are opening an interim showroom in our offices in Stockton until the Middlesbrough store is ready, but ideally I want to expand and establish Premier Living across the North-East," he said.

The company is already planning to add a specialist kitchen design and installation division within the next 12 months, and hopes to employ one additional designer and five members of showroom staff.

The company is also looking to branch out into working in the commercial market to further grow the business.

Mr Shail said: "We're looking to, and beginning to work with builders, developers and loft conversion companies.

"We're also working with local commercial premises, hotels, guesthouses and pubs and have inquiries coming in all the time about refurbishments and refits to premises."