A CAR dealership is investing nearly £1m in one of its flagship branches, creating more jobs.

Simon Bailes Peugeot’s site, on Stockton Riverside, is to undergo a refurbishment over the coming months.

The site, one of the best performing Peugeot outlets in the UK, employs 30, but the company said it expects to take on more staff next year once the refurbishment is completed.

The family-run business, established more than 30 years ago by Simon Bailes, has further dealerships in Northallerton and Guisborough and employs more than 120.

Mr Bailes said: “This is a very exciting time for Stockton.

I believe the area is going to undergo a period of major re-development. As a business, I won’t hold back on growth and feel it is vital to make a real commitment to the town’s future by massively investing in the Stockton dealership. The team at Stockton is amazingly enthusiastic about our refurbishment which will provide a really modern and dynamic working and customer environment.

“We’ll all be working closely with Stockton Council, which is hugely supportive of what we’re doing.”

The dealership will be open as normal throughout the refurbishment.