AN internet company is planning further expansion and job creation in the region after its turnover topped £10m.

Tyne and Wear firm Knowledge IT is planning to increase its 65-strong workforce by a fifth during the next few months.

The company will have more than 100 employees by the end of the year.

Knowledge IT, which is moving into new premises, is also investing more than £5m to set up two workplace recovery centres in the region, which will create 35 jobs.

Earlier this year, 14 posts were created when the company strengthened its core operation, which deals with IP telephony, ICT, data storage and internet services.

Knowledge IT, based in Washington, is moving to larger premises on Silverlink Business Park, North Tyneside, due to increased business.

Turnover is more than £10m, a third of which the company said is thanks to contracts won during the past year.

The company is turning its attentions to winning work in network and installation projects, and in becoming one of the leading disaster recovery providers in the North-East.

The company is one of the region's main providers of added value communications technology and solutions, with clients including Newcastle's RVI Hospital and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The company wants to strengthen its sales and engineering teams.

George Sanger, Knowledge IT's sales and marketing director, said: "We are growing very quickly and want to boost capacity with the additional people who have the requisite skills to help us move forward."