TELECOMS company BNS Telecom has seen group profits climb back into the black after a loss of £450,000 last year.

The group saw profits rise to £530,000 in the six months to January 31 from the deficit it made last year. Turnover also grew 44 per cent to £16.39m.

BNS, which is based in Prudhoe, Northumberland, and listed on the Alternative Investment Market, has recruited 50 people since Easter, and now employs more than 25.

Releasing its half-year results yesterday, BNS also revealed it had an order book of £2.8m, the latest step towards its goal of becoming a major force in the UK telecoms market.

BNS, which has launched nine new products in as many months, has also seen record month-on-month sales recently, with April being the best ever.

All debt from the closure of the unprofitable network services division, in October last year, has now been cleared, the company said. Garry Moat, chief executive of BNS, said the company's fortunes were on the up.

"Things are looking very positive at the moment and it is great to be able to create new jobs as our business goes from strength to strength," he said.