GLASS manufacturer Romag yesterday pledged there would be "significant" job creation at its County Durham base as sales of its PowerGlaz range continued to soar.

The Consett company, which revealed a 25 per cent rise in pretax profits to £733,000 in the six months to March 31, said more staff would be employed, adding to its 160-strong workforce, with the opening of a new production line in July.

The £4m plant will allow production of PowerGlaz, which converts the sun's rays into electricity, to rise from 4MW a year to 12MW.

Romag has been struggling to keep up with demand for the range, which saw an 80 per cent increase in half-year sales to £2.1m, and scored further success with a £60m five-year supply contract with a Spanish client.

Yesterday, managing director Lyn Miles said: "We will constantly monitor the growth in demand, and if that rises further, we will look at further investment.

"There will also be recruitment.

Although it will be done slowly and over a period of time to allow people to be trained, we are talking about a significant number of new positions."

Romag revealed an eight per cent drop in turnover, but insisted it was expected and seasonal.

Ms Miles said: "We believe the business is set to grow, and we believe that growth will be driven by PowerGlaz."