MOTOR dealer Reg Vardy will create up to 60 jobs after being awarded the Citroen franchise for Middlesbrough, Stockton and Hartlepool.

The group, which is based in Sunderland, will open two dealerships - one at Thornaby's Mandale Industrial Estate, and another in the former Peugeot dealership in Brenda Road, Hartlepool.

The Brenda Road site was leased by Reg Vardy to South Cleveland Garages, which closed after it went into receivership.

A Reg Vardy spokesman said he understood the staff made redundant from South Cleveland could apply for jobs at the new dealership.

The Mandale site was previously home to a Reg Vardy Fiat dealership, which moved last week to premises in Portrack Lane, Stockton.

The award of the Citroen franchise will increase the number of Reg Vardy's UK dealerships to 95, stretching from Aberdeen in the North to Reading in the South. The group aims to have 100 dealerships by the end of the financial year.

The number of dealerships operated by the group in the Tees Valley area will increase to 14.

Reg Vardy has six other Citroen dealerships, in York, Sheffield, Leeds, Stoke, Reading and Banbury and the award further strengthens the group's relationship with the manufacturer.

Chief executive Sir Peter Vardy said: "These are exciting times as we work towards the further expansion of Reg Vardy and this award provides increased opportunity to reach more customers in our efforts to make motoring more affordable."

The company said that a range of jobs for sales and technical staff would be created at the two showrooms.