AN OIL and chemical spill specialist has opened the first of a planned national network of response centres.

Ceto Environmental Ltd is investing £250,000 in the latest protection and recovery equipment to provide a centre capable of dealing with any oil or chemical incident, including those involving the most hazardous and toxic chemicals.

The centre, in Bromsgrove, will be the central hub of the UK network, providing a 24-hour emergency response service throughout England and Wales.

Ten new jobs will be created at the centre.

Ceto's Director of UK Operations, John Dipple, was born and raised in Bromsgrove and has been involved in tackling some of the world's worst pollution incidents, including the Erika tanker disaster in the English Channel and the Natuna Sea accident off the Chinese coast.

"We have a local operations team of 10 highly trained and experienced professionals," said Mr Dipple.

"Bromsgrove's excellent transport links mean it is ideally placed to allow us to respond to any location in England and Wales.

"Once we have recruited further specialists and opened other regional centres, Bromsgrove will concentrate on serving the Midlands."

Ceto's regional manager in Bromsgrove is John Holmes, from Solihull, who has 10 years' experience of pollution control and recovery.

The centre's chemical services manager, Nick Bailey, was previously a consultant to the UK National Chemical Emergency Centre.

Ceto Environmental Ltd was launched earlier this year with £2m financial backing from trade sources and members of the management team.

Its headquarters are in Aberdeen and the company plans to recruit 80 employees over the next 12 months and aims to have more than 200 on the payroll within two years.

Ceto Environmental has already secured several contracts, including provision of support to the UK Government's Maritime and Coastguard Agency's counter-pollution branch and a significant contract in Nigeria.