CABLE firm Telewest Communications has added 21,000 household customers to record its fourth successive quarter of subscriber growth.

The company said its interim figures showed it was getting the basics right, with earnings before tax and amortisation up 16 per cent, at £142m.

However, pre-tax losses at the firm, which employs more than 500 staff on Tyneside, continued to widen, with depreciation and higher operating expenses pushing the figure for the half-year to June 30 to £413m, from £296m.

Adam Singer, chief executive, said yesterday that he was encouraged by subscriber numbers and the customer retention rate.