Telecoms and media giant BT is to create 500 customer service jobs primarily at sites in the North of England and Wales.

The new roles are in addition to the previously-announced target of 1,000 UK and Ireland customer service jobs by the end of March 2017.

Roles in BT Consumer will be created at contact centres in Swansea, Warrington, Doncaster and Accrington. Other new jobs will be across the UK and Ireland.

The company will also be offering current Manpower agency staff the chance to convert their role into a permanent job working directly for BT.

Libby Barr, managing director of customer care at BT Consumer, said: "We are proud to be creating these new jobs in the UK and Ireland. BT is completely changing the way we serve our customers in order to boost our service levels."