Assembly ministers have welcomed the announcement that 200 call centre jobs are to be created in west Wales over the next five years.

Caerphilly-based firm PHS has confirmed that it is to expand, setting up a telesales call centre in Ammanford, to sell bathroom products to businesses.

"One of the reasons we chose Ammanford was because we found that there would be an availability of high quality people in the area," said chief executive Peter Cohen.

"We've had a great experience in Caerphilly building our workforce from 120 to currently 450 people.

"That gave us the confidence that we would find similar success in Ammanford.

"We've found that the Welsh assembly government and the Welsh Development Agency have been very supportive."

Expansion

Assembly economic development minister Andrew Davies described it as "good news" for the region.

"The company will expand in its objective one area with assistance from the assembly," he said.

"It builds on the progress we've made in the area.  Ammanford has seen the decline of the coal industry so 200 new jobs are more good news for the economy."

The news follows a similar announcement two weeks ago from computer company Logica CMG that it would increase its workforce in south Wales from 760 to over 1,000 over the next three years.

However, the region also faces job cuts - it was announced earlier this month that 550 jobs are to go at the Defence Aviation Repair Agency in the Vale of Glamorgan.