A NEW business which employs 1,200 people in Bolton has made an "encouraging" start since it began operations in May.

Reality, launched by Great Universal Stores, brought together 20,000 GUS people throughout the country working in e-commerce, customer care and logistics services.

It operates locally in Thynne Street, Beehive Mill and Farnworth.

Activities include Catalogue Bargain Shops, a call centre and White Arrow Express warehouses and heavy goods depots.

Interim figures for the £400 million company show that sales are up 15 per cent on the same period last year.

Seventeen new contracts totalled £119 million.

Reality Group Chief Executive Martin Trees said: "The results of this first few months are very encouraging and a great credit to everyone in the business."

He said the switch to a new company operating in the external marketplace -- from one providing internal GUS services -- had meant a massive change in culture and working practices.

New clients include Q.com, Freekick, Good Ski Guide, FRNF, Halifax, Barclaycard, Hitachi, Time Life, Vauxhall and Grolier Book.