THE taxman actually has some good news for a North-East jobs blackspot - new jobs at a call centre.

But the Inland Revenue cannot say exactly how many people will be employed at Peterlee, east Durham, dealing with queries about tax credits.

All it would say in a press release was that the centre "would bring several hundred jobs for people living in and around Peterlee".

The town, which has seen a boom in private sector call centre jobs in recent years, is in the heart of the former east Durham coalfield.

Unemployment is about seven per cent and many of the jobs gained have been largely offset by losses in the area's textile industry.

The Inland Revenue is opening four new "contact centres" - the others are at Dudley in the West Midlands and Dundee and Livingston in Scotland - to encourage more low paid people wanting information about tax credits to use the phone.

Inland Revenue contact centre programme director Ian Gerrie said: "Contact centres will help us to provide a first rate service for customers.

"We chose Peterlee because there are a lot of skilled people in the area who we aim to recruit and train to give the modern, professional and approachable service we want to provide.

"That includes being able to take calls from people outside normal hours."

Easington's Labour MP John Cummings said: "I'm absolutely delighted that the Government has acknowledged the value of the people of this area.

"They have looked at the success of call centres and the adaptability of the workforce and have acknowledged that the people are very warm and inspire confidence in callers."

Richard Robson, Easington District Council's director of strategic policy and regeneration, said: "This is fantastic news for the district of Easington and a much needed boost for job hunters."

The centre, on the Brackenhill Business Park, will open in August and recruitment - undertaken by Northern Recruitment - will start in April.