SOLAR power firm Spectrum Energy is poised to create up to 100 jobs with the opening of a new call centre next year.

Forty new jobs would be created at the launch with up to 60 more jobs over the next 18 months as the operation expands.

Spectrum supplies and installs a new type of solar system capable of coping with Britain's less-than-sunny climate.

Spectrum already employs 87 people in Bournemouth. The company was set up around four years ago by entrepreneur Darrell Nicholls.

"The solar systems produced by Spectrum are light years ahead of the dated systems that have previously been installed in the UK," said a company spokesman.

"They are 95 per cent efficient and require only natural daylight, not hours of sunshine or high temperatures, so they are ideal for England." Spectrum claims its systems can produce savings of £2,000 on hot water bills for a family of four.

"Most people who have the systems installed find that they pay for themselves after an average of eight years."