Up to 600 jobs are being created in one of Wales's unemployment blackspots, it has been reported.

In a deal to be confirmed next week, Britain's largest employment agency Manpower is to take over a new call centre in Pembrokeshire.

The centre will be part of a project which it is understood could bring up to 600 jobs by the year 2003.

Talks between Manpower, the Welsh Development Agency and Pembrokeshire County Council are understood to have been going on for some months.

It is thought Manpower will be responsible for recruitment and management of staff at the centre - working with another partner who will handle customer relations.

The purpose-built centre at Cleddau Bridge was completed last September as part of a strategic plan to develop the Pembrokeshire's declining economy.

It is the first centre in the county and can accommodate up to 200 workers at a time. A training centre is now being built nearby.

The National Assembly's Economic Secretary Rhodri Morgan is to make the jobs announcement at the call centre on Monday.

It is understood recruitment of staff will begin immediately.

The Welsh Development Agency has been under pressure to promote projects outside the two areas of Wales which have so far attracted most inward investment - the M4 and A55 corridors in south and north wales.

Pembrokeshire is one of the areas which it has been claimed are losing out on investment