NEWPORT today clinched a Civil Service jobs bonanza.

Up to 600 positions at The Office of National Statistics (ONS) are being relocated from London and Titchfield in Hampshire.

The move is part of Chancellor Gordon Brown's plan to relocate 27,000 civil servants from the South East to the regions.

The ONS jobs were destined for either Bristol or Newport. Welsh ministers in Westminster, including Peter Hain and Don Touhig, lobbied hard for Newport to secure the economic boost the move would bring. Mr Touhig said: "Newport won because it has such a good track record.

"The ONS already has a successful site in the city at Tredegar Park and the Patent Office nearby was another successful relocation.

"And house prices are significantly cheaper in Newport than Bristol."

The politicians cannot say how many of the civil servants affected will actually move with their jobs.

Some will opt to leave the service because of family commitments in London.

The more that do will mean more good-quality job opportunities in Newport at school leaver, graduate and senior manager level.

Many jobs will pay more than £20,000 per year.

The official announcement for the move will be made later this week by the director of ONS Len Cook.

The government has not revealed whether it will be leasing additional office space for its staff.

However, Newport Unlimited chief executive Graham Moore believes it will build additional facilities at its existing site.