The cable firm is to merge its UK call centre operations at three sites

Another 100 will move to Bellshill from NTL's call centre in Glasgow, which is to close as part of a UK-wide review which will see the loss of 1,500 jobs.

Bellshill has been chosen to be one of three specialist call centres, along with Manchester and Swansea.

The company said it was "actively encouraging" people over the age of 50 to apply for the new jobs in Bellshill.

NTL said people in this age group had a "huge amount" to offer customers and would play an important role in mentoring younger members of staff.

The Bellshill centre currently employs more than 380 people.

'Critical step'

As well as Glasgow, sites in Belfast, Brighton, Cambridge and Winnersh, near Reading, will be closed.

Chief executive Simon Duffy said: "NTL has made good progress in improving its customer service, but we still have some way to go.

"The consolidation of our call centres and investment in leading-edge technology is a critical step on our path to greatly improved service for our customers."

The group added that it hoped to achieve most of the cuts through "natural wastage".

Debt burden

NTL, which is listed on the US stock market but has the bulk of its operations in Europe, has been working hard recently to recover from a costly acquisition spree in the 1990s.

In 2002 the firm was forced to seek emergency protection from its creditors after almost collapsing under the weight of its hefty debt burden built up during the expansion.

Many of the acquisitions were completed at the height of the 1990s technology boom, when company valuations peaked before plunging back to earth in the subsequent bust.

In January 2003, NTL emerged from bankruptcy protection after its lenders agreed to swap �6.8bn worth of debt for stock.