FORTY-two new jobs have been pledged with the arrival of a new accident repair bodyshop in Bolton.

Bosses at Solus, which is owned and operated by the insurance giant Aviva, have identified premises at Logistics North for the venture.

A 10-year lease has been signed for 25,000 square foot premises, which is set to begin repairing cars next April.

The announcement, in one of Bolton's most competitive industry sectors, is part of a series of three new openings which Solus has pencilled in for early 2020.

Simon Smith, the firm's chief operating officer, said: "e are really excited to be opening our flagship bodyshop in Bolton, in a brand-new building located on a high-profile estate.

"Bolton is big, central and has a wealth of talent in close proximity. It's a tremendous opportunity for us as we expand our network of repair centres across the UK and get even closer to our customers.

"I can't think of a more exciting time to be a part of an industry that is evolving right before our eyes.

"Cars are changing – from petrol to electric and from manual to increasingly autonomous – and the way we repair cars needs to keep pace.

"Our Bolton bodyshop will be trained and equipped to correspond with these advances and ensure we are able to deliver an exceptional customer experience while providing the highest quality of repair."

Further sites have been pinpointed by Solus for West Yorkshire and the East Midlands.

Recruitment for the Bolton location is expected to begin next month.

Mr Smith added: "We will be hiring a variety of roles, including customer facing, engineering and technician roles. Solus also operates a nationwide apprenticeship programme which will eventually be available at the site."

The company was recently singled out by judges at the UK Customer Experience Awards, securing three awards and being named overall winner in their field. Repairs are carried out by Solus on behalf of insurance brands including Aviva, General Accident and Quote Me Happy.