The company, whose CEO is from Burnley, has calculated that, with accommodation rental comparable between the two locations, the Lancashire town comes out on top. As a result, New Call Telecom are switching their operations back to the UK and are expected to begin recruitment this week.

Chief Nigel Eastwood said: "India isn't that cheap any more. As call centres have grown, real estate prices have gone up massively, while salaries have also crept up."

Call handling times in India are on average 25 per cent longer than in Britain, he added.

Burnley staff will be on the minimum wage but it will provide a huge boost to a high unemployment area.