A Motherwell customer services firm is expected to almost double its workforce after signing a multimillion-pound contract with hardware retailer B&Q.

Ascensos, which was established in 2013 and already employs 400 staff, is opening a new facility in Clydebank allowing it to raise its workforce to 750 and putting it on course to employ 1,000 by 2017.

The contract will see Ascensos expand the social media support it already provides to B&Q to include telephone, email, web and chat services from October 2016.

John Devlin, managing director of Ascensos, said: "We have established a great relationship with Kingfisher Group and we look forward to building on this and creating a world-class facility for B&Q, their customers and our team in Clydebank.

"Ascensos has grown quickly in the last two years and this expansion in Clydebank starts another key chapter in our success story."

Tibor Szabo, head of customer services at B&Q, said: "The warmth and positive spirit of Glaswegians has been an important consideration in choosing Ascensos and the location to take our customer call centre forward.

"We are delighted to be expanding the work Ascensos is already doing to support our social media channels."

Ascensos was established by Dermot Jenkinson, John Devlin and Katrine Young, who established customer care provider beCogent in Airdrie.

Ascensos also has contracts with Karen Millen, Argos, Oasis and Scottish Power.