HUNDREDS of jobs could be created in Darlington over the next three years with the supported expansion of businesses in the town.

Darlington Borough Council is planning to extend two initiatives which have already brought 40 jobs and £80,000 to the local economy.

The schemes are run by Darlington council's economic regeneration team.

Plans are under way to extend the projects for a further two years.

A bid has already been made for extra funding for the initiatives from the European Social Fund.

More than 200 jobs could be created by giving grants to companies which want to increase their workforce.

The Financial Incentive Grants scheme has paid out £80,000 in the past year to help small businesses increase their workload.

The grants are funded jointly by the borough council and the European Regional Development Fund.

The second scheme, which could create a further 200 jobs, is the Darlington Into Work Project.

Forty local people have already found work in the past year through the scheme, which is also supported by European funding.

This project is aimed at small and medium-sized businesses, and tries to match their needs to the available workforce.

The skills and ambitions of people looking for work are assessed by the project to make sure they are given a job which is suited to them.

Financial assistance is also given to employers to fund training schemes, so they can take on people who may not have the skills for specific roles.

The project also offers wage subsidies to businesses.

Councillor David Lyonette, the council's cabinet member for economic regeneration, welcomed the chance of bringing an estimated 400 extra jobs to the town.

He said: "Much of the work carried out by the economic regeneration staff is designed to bring long-term benefits to the town in the form of sustainable jobs.

"Unemployment continues to fall in Darlington, and these schemes are making a difference."