FOOD delivery company Deliveroo is recruiting riders ahead of its expansion into new territory in Lancashire.

Over the next few month, the company hopes to sign up new delivery riders ahead of its launch in Rossendale and Ormskirk, where it will be working with local restaurants and grocers.

This comes around a month after Deliveroo's launch in Hyndburn and not long after the company's expansion elsewhere in the county, including into Burnley and Chorley.

Deliveroo UK regional director Harrison Foster, said: "We’ve seen a huge demand for Deliveroo in Ormskirk and Rossendale and we’re excited to be launching next month.

"We’re really excited to be creating new work opportunities for local people.

"The team is looking for people with passion, drive and great customer service who are seeking the added benefit of flexible work amongst other perks.

"Anyone who's interested should head over to our website to sign up."

The company has seen rider demand soar over this year and last, due to the pandemic requiring more and more people to depend on deliveries for their meals and groceries, and now says that it works with 50,000 riders across the UK.

With recruitment in Rossendale and Ormskirk now under way, Deliveroo claims that working as riders suits people looking for flexible working hours and who may need to work around other commitments such as students or people who already have other jobs.

It also offers free riding courses for riders and their families.

However, the company has also faced recent criticism over its riders' status as 'self employed' meaning they are given a degree of flexibility over working hours, but consequently are not covered by normal employment rights.

As such, a report in March by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism found that a third of a test sample of 300 riders made less than the national minimum wage of £8.72, an issue that was further highlighted by industrial action launched by riders earlier this year on April 7.

However the company has insisted that the majority of riders are satisfied with the arrangements.

Addressing the BIJ report, a Deliveroo spokesperson said: “Deliveroo riders have the complete freedom to choose when and where to work and can choose which deliveries to accept and which to reject. 50,000 riders choose to work with Deliveroo, and thousands more people apply to work with us every week."