A financial sector company has said it is bringing more than 300 jobs to Belfast.

The expansion by Capita's life and pensions division at its centre in the north of the city will create 336 posts over the next four years.

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster welcomed the announcement, following an offer to the firm of more than £1 million support by Invest NI.

The minister said: "These new jobs which will be created over the next four years are very welcome in the current economic climate and offer a wide variety of opportunities, including management and supervisory positions.

"The expansion will also open up new jobs to returners to work, people who are keen to develop valuable transferable skills and those who are seeking to get on the employment ladder for the first time.

"The salaries generated will eventually contribute over £5 million a year to the Northern Ireland economy."

The minister said the project is the first to be announced under Invest Northern Ireland's short-term employment scheme, set up earlier this year to try to stimulate job creation."