FIFTY new jobs are to be created at a North-East crisp factory.

Walkers Snack Foods, which operates the former Tudor site in Peterlee, is one of the biggest employers in east Durham and provides work for about 400 people.

The company decided to increase its investment in the North-East following a six per cent increase in sales last year.

There will be full-time jobs for both skilled and unskilled workers. Recruitment has begun for the positions, which range from accounting technicians to general operators.

Walkers chief executive Martin Glenn said: "This is a fantastic tribute to the existing workforce at Peterlee and clearly demonstrates our long-term commitment in the region. We hope and believe that, as a company, we can continue to grow together in an area which has seen more than its fair share of cutbacks and closures."

Walkers also plans to introduce a new shift pattern at the factory, which will enable it to move from a five-day to a seven-day operation next year.

Staff now work a three-day shift pattern from Monday to Friday with weekends as overtime for additional production or maintenance work.

The change will affect about 25 per cent of the workforce and managers will spend the next few months working closely with the individual employees affected by the proposed changes.

Plant manager John Francis said: "Involving our employees at an early stage is very important to us.

"We all want to see the plant continue to grow and prosper and working directly together is the best way to achieve this."

He said: "The fact that we are able to expand is a result of the commitment and flexibility of the people who work here. They do a wonderful job."

The changes follow the plant's recent expansion into the former Courtaulds textile factory next door.

The £1.5m extension has enabled Walkers to improve the delivery service to customers.

Last week Walkers, which is part of the American Pepsi group, was reaffirmed as Britain's number two best-selling brand after Coca Cola.