A GWENT call centre is creating more than 100 new jobs - just two months after it was rescued from the brink of liquidation.

The Dial Call Centre in Cwmbran looked doomed at the start of February after bosses admitted they could not afford to pay the 200 employees.

Many of the staff agreed to work on without pay while the previous directors tried to secure a buyer for the company.

A takeover by Financial Brokers Yes Loans, after protracted negotiations, secured the jobs of the 300-strong workforce.

The company now says it is looking to expand and has secured an extension of a major telecommunications contract with Carphone Warehouse.

Dial provides call centre services for a number of major UK firms.

Managing director Melfyn Roberts said he was delighted at the way things were going and assured potential employees the instability was in the past.

"Business is booming here and we are expanding. We're delighted to be bringing new jobs to Cwmbran and the future look very bright."

The company is looking to fill 106 immediate vacancies at its base in Llantarnam Business Park, Cwmbran. It hopes to increase the current workforce from 300 to 450 within a year.

Bosses have also enlisted the help of staff to try to encourage workers who left Dial during the previous 18 months to return.

Around 20 staff members have signed letters posted to the old employees telling them of the new-found security and hope for the future.

Councillor Neil Lewis, Torfaen council's executive member for resources, said: "A hundred newly-created jobs with a company that handles contracts for some of the UK's most prestigious companies is great news.

"This is an added bonus following the recent threat of job losses."

Dial began experiencing cash-flow problems after the loss of a major contract with British Gas last autumn.

The company is not seeking any assistance from the National Assembly for the creation of the jobs.