MORE than 120 extra engineers have been hired in Yorkshire by Openreach, which runs BT’s broadband infrastructure, in a move to improve customer services.

The latest recruitment drive also included 17 apprentices and five graduates.

The new recruits are also working on rolling out fibre broadband to more households and businesses beyond the nearly two million premises in the region, which already have access to the high speed technology.

Areas where they will be working include Bradford, Shipley, Pudsey and Halifax .

In 2015, Openreach recruited 45 engineers and apprentices in the region .Over the past three years the company has taken on more than 700 apprentices across the UK and employs around 5,000 engineers.

Tom Keeney, BT’s Yorkshire regional director, said: “This latest recruitment represents another major investment by BT in the region as a leading employer and provider of essential services. New recruits are now embarking on exciting careers in a fast-moving industry, which is making a major contribution to the future success of Yorkshire.”

. Openreach said it has been meeting or exceeding all 60 of Ofcom’s service standards with the latest results showing that 84 per cent of faults are fixed within two working days and 93 per cent of new lines are installed on time. The new recruits would help it to continue improving service levels.

A significant number of new recruits are ex-service men and women - continuing the company’s long-standing relationship with the UK armed forces-. Openreach said it was keen to hire more female engineers. .

Clive Selley, chief executive , said: “Improving the service that we provide to customers is my number one priority, and these new engineering recruits will be helping us connect more people on time and fix faults faster. Openreach is already rolling out superfast fibre broadband and is helping the Government achieve its aim of reaching 95 per cent of UK premises by the end of 2017.”