PLANS that will safeguard the jobs of a major employer in an unemployment blackspot were announced this week.

Consett stairlift manufacturers Bison Bede are to expand with a move to new state-of-the-art premises in the town.

A spokesman for the company confirmed that new products are planned for production that will create an undisclosed number of jobs in the coming months.

The firm, currently based at Castleside, Hounsgill and Greencroft in the Derwentside district, is to move to a new central office and factory site at Consett's Number One Industrial Estate on Medomsley Road in the town. The company currently employs more than 200 people and had an estimated turnover of £22m last year. Staff are due to move to the new premises before Christmas.

Managing director, Kees Van Wanrooij said: "Everyone involved in the company is looking forward to the move.

"It will provide Bison Bede with new manufacturing, research and development and customer services facilities, which will improve the success of the business internally and externally.

"It is considered this move will add to our efficiency and will be better internally for the staff."

A spokesman for the company added that 'vast expansion plans' are in the pipeline.

She said: "It is all very positive for the future. There will be no new jobs initially but I can say we have a lot of new products planned and consequently there will be more jobs because of that."

The company's new buildings have been adapted for Bison Bede since they were vacated by one of Derwentside's other major companies, International Cuisine.

There will be two manufacturing units at the new site and an area for the company's national sales team.

Bison Bede was first estab lished in 1983 and has been bought out twice since then. The latest owners are Domus.