UP to 40 telesales jobs could be created as part of the expansion of a new Blackburn-based firm.

Over the next 12 months, utility advisory service, Billscutter, will recruit new starters to staff an office, close to its existing building, in Preston New Road.

Billscutter, set up last April, provides independent reviews of business and domestic gas and electricity providers in an attempt to save people money.

The firm, which currently employs 18 staff, is holding interviews at the JobCentre, in Penny Street, today until 4pm.

Managing director Claire Vause said the new openings were a fantastic opportunity for people to become involved in the growing market of telesales.

She said: "These jobs are not just jobs but a long-term career opportunity. To have telesales skills is very useful as more and more UK firms start to use them.

"We are looking ideally for people who have telesales experience but it is not compulsory. The staff will be sent on in-house training schemes. They will learn to converse on may different levels and how to become an asset to the company.

"We will also be looking for five admin staff either to be housed at the new base or the current one. That has not yet been decided.

"The jobs will be introduced gradually over the course of the year. We cannot take all 40 at once for training purposes. But by the end of the year we envisage to have at least that number of new telesales and marketing staff with us.

"As a company we look at how people can cut costs to save on their bills. We have only been running a short time but already we are making good progress which is why we need more staff."

The firm plans to keep its current base for administration and use the new office space just meters away for all telesales staff.

The company also provide an online calculator facility for customers to work out how much they could save by switching providers.