MIDLAND Bank chief executive Bill Dalton was in Scotland yesterday for the official opening of the bank's first Scottish customer service call centre at Edinburgh Park, west of the capital.

The centre began operating last September and employs 300 people. A further 300 will be recruited over the next 18 months.

First Direct, the market-leading telephone bank and a

Midland subsidiary, is to create up to 5000 jobs over the next 10 years at its Hamilton International Technology Park call

centre in Lanarkshire. The centre, which deals with inquiries, credit and loans, opened last month.