British Gas has announced plans to create 3,000 new engineering jobs in order to meet customer demand for gas-fired central heating.

The posts will be created by over the next three years, underpinned by a �2m investment in new training facilities.

The new staff will work as engineers installing and servicing gas-fired central heating systems.

The company said it hopes to recruit people who would not normally have considered working as a gas engineer, including women and single parents.

Ministerial welcome

UK energy minister Brian Wilson welcomed the job creation plans.

"The announcement builds on our work with industry and other government departments to tackle skills shortages," he said.

"Initiatives like this will also help us to reduce fuel poverty."

British Gas, the UK's leading gas supplier, is owned by energy and services group Centrica, whose other well-known brands include the AA breakdown service and the OneTel telecommunications company.

British Gas has inherited the trading name of the former UK gas monopoly, which was privatised in 1986.