CWMBRAN is celebrating an economic boost today with the news that up to 150 new jobs are being created at a local company.

The jobs are set to go to Cwmbran as support services company HBS (Hyder Business Serv-ices), today announced a new £6 million contract for its call centre.

Virgin Energy, the utilities company, is the latest coup for the call centre, which won the contract on its reputation and track record - against fierce competition.

The deal, which will have its formal launch on Friday, comes after Virgin Energy announced that it specifically wanted to bring this element of its business to Wales.

The contract is worth around £6 million and is one of the biggest so far won by the contact centre. It makes HBS one of the largest private employers in Torfaen. HBS currently employs more than 300 staff at its Tintern House call centre in Llantarnam Park, with a further 80 people working on its Wales and West contracts.

Staff, who will receive specialist training for the work for Virgin Energy, will initially be offering potential customers Virgin Energy electricity and gas services, with the possible expansion into other Virgin services as the contract progresses.

John Jasper, group chief executive for HBS, said: "Our contact centre facility has a fine track record with a number of blue chip companies. Adding Virgin Energy to our portfolio of clients is a significant achievement."

HBS was formed out of utilities company Hyder and its head office has been in Cwmbran for three years.

In 2000, HBS announced as ground-breaking 10-year £306 million deal with Lin-colnshire county council and has since won similar major public-private partnership contracts with Bedfordshire county council and Middles-brough council. It currently employs nearly 4,000 people throughout the UK.

Torfaen council's executive member for the environment, councillor John Marshall, said: "We have been working with HBS since they originally set up their contact centre. "It is further justification of our role on the Call Centre Initiative in encouraging bus-inesses to come to Torfaen. They are good jobs.

"Their expansion shows confidence in the the quality of staff available locally." Llantarnam ward councillor Jack Hughes, added: "I am absolutely overjoyed with the news.

"It is a boost for the economy of Llantarnam and for Torfaen area as a whole.