BANKING group Barclays is creating more than 200 jobs at a contact centre in the region.

Barclays, which already employs 1,250 workers at Sunderland's Doxford International business park, is to create another 200 part-time and 36 full-time jobs.

Business leaders last night welcomed the news as a positive sign for the call centre industry, which has seen thousands of jobs move abroad in recent years.

The posts, which are all for customer sales advisor positions, will be filled by the end of the year.

Barclays is expanding its customer service team because of an increase in customer demand for telephone banking.

Darren Farnell, head of customer service at Barclays' Sunderland contact centre, said: "Our expansion plans are great news for the Sunderland site as it brings greater opportunities for career development and new job prospects for people in the region wanting the flexibility of a shift pattern, which allows them to balance a career and family commitments."

Ged Fitzgerald, chief executive of Sunderland City Council, said: "Coming so soon after Northern Rock's intention to build a new office at Rainton Bridge, this is another boost for the city.

"Sunderland boasts a highly skilled workforce and these are value-adding jobs that demonstrate Barclays' long-term commitment to the city and our position as a world-class location for blue chip employers.

"The city's call centre industry is buoyant and employers like Barclays are keen to benefit from the pool of highly skilled workers, first-class infrastructure and a wealth of support services on offer in the city."

The move by Barclays follows Northern Rock's announcement of plans to create 2,500 jobs at Rainton Bridge Business Park.

George Cowcher, chief executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce, said: "Sunderland has a diverse economic base, and has seen enormous improvements in the past ten to 15 years.

"It has some good manufacturing companies, but also this strong service side.

"What is exciting about this news is that so many banks have been offshoring and it is really good to see new jobs being created here.

"Barclays wouldn't be creating these jobs if it did not believe they were going to be successful, so I think it is a vote of confidence in all of its call centre jobs there."

Sunderland's contact centre industry employs more than 10,000 people in companies that include EDF Energy and T-Mobile.

Barclays has been based at Doxford International Business Park since 1998, when former Sunderland manager Peter Reid opened the contact centre.

Last week, logistics group TNT announced it was opening a call centre in Team Valley, Gateshead.