A VEHICLE servicing centre has announced it is moving into Ipswich as part of a plan to create up to 500 new jobs.

A VEHICLE servicing centre has announced it is moving into Ipswich as part of a plan to create up to 500 new jobs.

Fast fit retailer HiQ is rolling out a national franchise programme of its successful tyres, exhaust and servicing centres, with Suffolk's county town set to benefit.

Ipswich is one of the towns being targeted for expanding its business, with the prospect of more jobs for the town's residents a welcome boost to the local economy as the fightback gathers pace.

A spokeswoman for HiQ, which is part of the Goodyear-Dunlop group, said: “We are specifically targeting Ipswich as part of a plan to open about 100 new stores in the next couple of years.”

She said their centres were defying the doom and gloom of the recession as they were cheaper than some other multi-national dealerships and particularly appealed to females.

“As a woman it can be difficult to go into places (vehicle serving centres) but we are making it completely female friendly and not deterring anyone from going in,” she said.

The company also announced yesterday it is aiming to raise �100,000 over the next year for breast cancer research through its ties as the main sponsor of the British Touring Car Championship.

The company was not sure how many jobs would end up being created in Ipswich, but it hoped to open at least one more centre will be added to the existing one in Holywells Road, with each centre employing around five people.