A PRINTING firm which saw its factory destroyed in a fire is creating jobs and looking to boost production at its new £15m facility.

Reed Print and Design relocated from three sites in the region to one large production facility in Washington, Tyne and Wear, at the turn of the year.

The company has since created about 20 jobs, taking the workforce to almost 200, and expects to recruit another 20 staff in the next 12 months.

Reed closed two operations in Newcastle and another in Sunderland and moved the entire business into the 120,000 sq ft complex in Washington in January.

The facility was built on the site of its former Reed Packaging factory, which was destroyed in a blaze in November 2003.

It produces over 170 million pieces of work a year for blue chip clients in the banking, utilities, telecoms and pharmaceutical sectors and has the capacity to double production in the future.

Reed has invested £8m in printing systems, including high specification print and finishing equipment.

Managing director Giles Sergant said: "We've reached a key milestone for the business, and now have all the necessary elements in place to support our forward plans."