ALMOST all the 500 jobs being relocated to Newport's Office of National Statistics in the next five years will be filled by Gwent people.

This was the good news delivered this afternoon by Len Cook, Britain's national statistician.

Mr Cook said the workers at ONS' London and Titchfield (Southampton) sites were choosing to stay put rather than grasp the opportunity of relocating to Wales.

He said: "In Southampton many of the staff joined us in the early 1970s and are now contemplating early retirement.

"In London statisticians are in high demand and our staff there know they can find alternative jobs relatively easily."

Mr Cook said they always told potential relocators not to judge Newport "by the drive from the station to our offices".

But one man's loss is another's gain and this means a jobs bonanza for Gwent workers. Many will be highly paid roles demanding A-levels and/or a degree.

The ONS is making Newport its national headquarters and over the next five years it will shift its IT, human resources and finance departments here, along with extensive research and analytical departments.

One hundred researchers are being recruited this year and the advertisements for the first 25 will be appearing this week.

Mr Cook said: "Over the last eight years we've recruited a huge number of very able people at Newport and I've no doubt that we will fill every new post very easily and very well.

"This relocation news has energised the Newport site and given everyone a real lift."