AT least 100 jobs are being created as part of a firm's expansion plans.

Amaro Professional Distribution, which distributes leaflets, will create the jobs over the next year as it attempts to quadruple its turnover in two years.

The company is in the process of moving to 10,000sq ft premises at Metro Riverside Park, near the MetroCentre, which will provide space for the expansion.

Using recruitment specialist Fresh Start, of Burnopfield, County Durham, Amaro is seeking staff including team managers, account handlers, administration staff and distributors.

They will handle a portfolio of contracts for local restaurants and retailers, national chains, local authorities and health service trusts.

Job centres are already referring applicants and adverts are to be placed in newspapers in the next few weeks.

Fresh Start has taken on an extra member of staff to handle the expected flood of applications.

Amaro managing director Robert Greener, said: "Unlike other leaflet distributors, we do not use casual labour, so we are offering full time salaried and permanent positions that all pay very good rates.

"Now we are in a position to take on more contracts, the business will quickly start to grow.

"We confidently expect to take on a further 200 employees once we are fully geared up in our new home."

Dawn Wake, of Fresh Start Recruitment, said: "The present phase is just the start of what Amaro will be doing over the coming years and the firm will quickly become a major employer in the region."