Image caption Kainos currently employs 240 people across its four locations

A Belfast software company is to create 80 jobs for people with computer skills.

Kainos is one of Northern Ireland's largest home grown software companies and currently employs 240 staff.

The company develops software for clients in financial services, and in the public and retail sectors.

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster announced the company's expansion at lunch time on Thursday.

The new posts will be filled over the next three years.

Kainos was established 25 years ago and has its headquarters in Belfast but also has offices in Dublin, London and Gdansk in Poland.

Organisations that use Kainos software include the NSPCC, Home Office, Department for Transport, Aon, Aviva, eircom, and the Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust.

Invest NI has supported the jobs investment to the tune of £984,000 and the enterprise minister was pleased to see the company grow.

"Kainos is one of Northern Ireland's largest locally owned, high-tech companies and this expansion reflects its ongoing success," said Mrs Foster.

"These new jobs will pay salaries well above the Northern Ireland private sector average, delivering more than £3m annually into the local economy.

"Kainos considered placing these new jobs in other offices, however, today's announcement underlines the competitiveness of Northern Ireland as a location for investment."

Brendan Mooney, managing director of Kainos, said the company had "ambitious growth plans" and was "delighted" to have Invest NI's support in the project.