SOFTWARE developer Ortia is planning to double its workforce in the next six months.

The Aske Stables company, from North Yorkshire, plans to add up to six new staff to cope with increasing demand for its services from an increasing range of blue chip clients including Orange, ntl, IBM, BP and Ericsson.

Ortia's expansion comes on the back of £500,000 turnover achieved in its first year in business.

Andrew Griffiths, company managing director, said: "Ortia was established in August last year to provide software development and project management for blue chip companies developing their own systems.

"Despite the current slowdown in the technology sector we are doing well and plan to create about six new jobs to add to the seven staff we already employ.