Last updated 19:42, Thursday, 12 June 2008

FOUR hundred jobs could be created at a new call centre at Lillyhall near Workington within the next few months.

Workington MP Tony Cunningham has revealed that Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs is looking to open a contact centre in West Cumbria House at Lillyhall.

Most of the workers would be answering phones in a call centre-type situation but there will be management positions available.

Mr Cunningham said he also expected teams of specialist employees to be based at Lillyhall.

The proposal, he said, was the culmination of months of work which began abut 18 months ago when it was announced that HM Customs and Revenue would be closing its office at Blencathra House in Whitehaven which had a staff of 67.

Nearly 150 people would be affected throughout Cumbria including Kendal and Barrow, whose offices were also under review.

At that time the department announced that a review of services was taking place which could see the services moving to city locations.

Mr Cunningham said the challenge was to convince the Government that the HMCR could bring jobs to West Cumbria. He said: “I am proud to say that the British Cattle Movement Service centre in Workington helped in this. I was able to point out what a success story that has been.

“I pointed out how successful the move by DEFRA had been and suggested that Customs and Revenue could find the same success.”

Mr Cunningham said the department could start recruiting within months.