SOFTWARE company Agility Systems has more than doubled its half-year profits and increased turnover by a quarter, it was announced yesterday.

The business, part of AIM-listed Chelford Group, has also strengthened its sales team and employs about 20 people at its offices in Darlington.

Trevor Lewis, Chelford chief executive, said: "In rough terms, turnover is up 25 per cent and profits have more than doubled. We've got a new sales force. We've taken on a new sales director and other sales personnel.

"We are happy with the progress of Agility. They are doing a good job, have strengthened their technologies and their products are moving into new markets. I am very positive about (Agility's) future."

He also said Agility had secured a number of "significant" deals to provide technology to companies including British Sugar and Lin Pac.

Chelford, which employs more than 150 staff and also has offices in Glasgow and Basingstoke, saw its revenue climb two per cent to £9.3m in the six months to June 30, while pre-tax profits doubled to £460,000.

Chairman William Birkett said: "The months of July and August have seen the same level of order intake increase experienced in the first half of the year," he said.

"With the order book increasing... and with a good pipeline of new business opportunities, the board anticipates a satisfactory outcome to the year."