The Stena Adventurer is part of the company's investment in Holyhead

Ferry operator Stena Line has announced plans to create 60 jobs at the port of Holyhead on Anglesey.

The company is to close its offices in Kent later this year and says it wants to focus instead on its Irish Sea route network.

The new jobs at Holyhead will include a call centre, IT personnel, sales and marketing and administrative staff.

Vic Goodwin, Stena Line's human resources director for the Irish Sea, said the lease of its Kent offices ends in December and will not be renewed.

"Instead, we will make better use of the resources on all our routes and create up to 60 new jobs in Holyhead".

Leader of Anglesey Council Bob Parry described the news as "tremendous".

"It not only demonstrates Stena Line's commitment to Holyhead, but also underlines the huge importance of operations at the port complex to the island's economy as a whole," he said.

Competitor

The company has made major investments in Holyhead in recent years.

Last year it launched the Stena Adventurer super ferry to Dublin capable of carrying 1,500 passengers and also built a �15 million two-tier berth in the port assisted with a �3.5m grant from European Objective One funding.

The latest announcement comes in the same month as major competitor P&O announced passenger ferry services between Mostyn Docks, Flintshire and Dublin are to be axed only months after the move was first suggested.

P&O have now sold their two ferries operating on the route to Stena Line.

News of the Holyhead expansion follows the announcement of a �6.2m scheme to improve its transport links, including a new causeway bridge across the harbour.

Another 200 jobs are planned over the next year for a new fast-food restaurant and an �8m retail park.