Up to 300 new jobs will be created in Southend as a fast-growing insurance company expands in the town.

InsureandGo Insurance Services will close its call centre in Braintree and expand its operations in Maitland House, Warrior Square, by the end of September.

Last year, the company was ranked as the 22nd fastest growing company in the country by The Sunday Times Fast Track 100 league table.

It already has an office in the town with around 100 workers.

The 120 jobs from the Braintree office will be transferred to Southend and company director Perry Wilson said there would be around 200 more new positions created over the next two years.

InsureandGo was founded in 2000 and the company bought Southend-based Travel Claims Services in September last year.

In November, it became the first company to offer insurance against terrorist attacks.

The move was in response to attacks in Bali, Egypt and London.

In a 2004 survey, Insurance Times found the company to be the best in offering cheap cover and an efficient service.

The jobs will mainly be call centre based, but the company hopes to offer other career opportunities to staff who join them.