THE UK's leading pizza restaurant is coming to Lancaster.

Pizza Hut plans to create up to 270 new jobs in Lancashire early by opening seven new outlets one of them in Lancaster.

Other new restaurants due to be open before the end of January will be in Leyland, Blackpool, Manchester, Bolton and Blackburn.

The first of the new string of pizza outlets opened last week on the Manchester Fort shopping park.

Lancaster's new Pizza Hut is third in line for its launch work has already started to prepare and fit the new restaurant at Kingsway. It is due to open on January 23 The company says it will be looking to recruit staff at all levels, from experienced restaurant managers to support staff, for the new venture.

That means there will be career and training opportunities for local people with varying levels of experience, says the chain's chief executive officer John Derkach.

"This year has been key in terms of Pizza Hut's expansion. We have steadily built upon last year's achievements and success to help consolidate our position as the market leader and are committed to continuing this success by growing in Lancashire."

* Last year,Pizza Hut opened 62 new stores in the UK to become the country's fastest growing pizza operator. It is on track to open 75 more restaurants nationally in 2005 adding up a total of £15 million invested in expansion and recruitment.