MOBILE phone group Orange has become the UK's largest network operator.

The group, owned by France Telecom, which employs more than 5,500 staff at three call centres across the North-East including one in Darlington, saw its revenues increase by 35 per cent in the six months to June 30.

It recorded revenues of £3.87m, with turnover rising 31 per cent to £4.36m.

One of the best performing areas of Orange's operations was the UK, where turnover rose by 39 per cent to £1.58m.

Orange had 65 per cent more UK customers in the first half of this year, than at the same time last year.

The number of customers rose to 11.9 million, making Orange the largest and fastest-growing mobile operator in the UK.

The Orange group as a whole increased its customers by more than half (52 per cent) to 35.5 million, compared with 23.4 million at the same time last year.

In France, Orange had a turnover of £1.95m, an increase of 21 per cent, and a customer base of 15.9 miilion, a 39 per cent increase on the 11.7 million it had on June 30, last year.

A spokesman for Orange said: "The results demonstrate that Orange, with France Telecom, is forging ahead as the leading mobile operator in its two main markets of France and the UK, and the number two operator in Europe as a whole."