UP TO 40 new jobs will be created by a Hampshire company in the next 12 months.

The announcement has been made by bus operators Solent Blue Line, which anticipates that by the end of the year staff on the books will rise to 200.

"We are gearing up for expansion in 2004," said managing director Malcolm Venn. "It's an exciting period in the development of Solent Blue Line.

"The company has identified that its proposals for 2004 will require extra staff and we are strengthening our training programme to ensure we have the correct number of suitably qualified professional people".

Solent Blue Line has begun its new job creation with the appointment of a full-time qualified driving instructor, Bob Boxall, and is in the throes of appointing a second driving instructor to train staff to meet the new requirements for 2004.

Two dedicated training vehicles, in two-tone blue and ivory livery, have been acquired and will be a common sight on the roads of south Hampshire in the months ahead.

The vehicles are former luxury coaches and one of them has the title Earl Mountbatten of Burma which will be retained in its new guise. A name is being sought for the second vehicle.

Both training vehicles will be kept to full standard and will be used as relief service buses or will be available for local private hire if required.

"Applicants interested in joining the company or starting a new career in passenger transport can contact the company's training officer Paul Dawson," said Mr Venn.

Paul Dawson can be reached on 023 8061 4234 or via the website www.solentblueline.com for an application form.