BT is close to concluding talks on a multi-billion pound buy-out deal for one of the region’s key employers.

The telecoms firm is in negotiations to take over mobile phone operator EE, which has offices in Darlington, Doxford Park, Sunderland, and Cobalt Business Park, near Newcastle, as it plots a £12.5bn bid for the UK’s biggest mobile network group.

BT insist that the move would lead to improved services and cut costs, but there are fears it will lead to job losses across EE’s regional workforce.

Darlington MP Jenny Chapman has urged BT not to squander its North-East staff, citing the company’s importance as the town’s largest private employer with about 2,000 call centre workers.

BT has remained tight-lipped about any potential impact on jobs as it goes through a period of due diligence ahead of the potential deal being tied up. It is understood the period of exclusive talks to conclude the buyout will expire in the next couple of weeks.

BT is planning to launch consumer mobile phone services before the end of the financial year - which finishes on March 31 - but that the way this was done would be affected by the EE deal.

It already offers mobile to business customers through a wholesale tie-up with the EE network and had been planning the wider roll-out before its takeover plans emerged, which should mean it will own the company.

Chief executive Gavin Patterson said: "Clearly the fact that we are hoping to conclude a deal with EE will have an impact on our thinking of how to really drive that launch."

Mr Patterson also revealed that its roll-out of superfast fibre broadband - which can also be used by other providers - now covered around three quarters of the UK.

Pilots for its new "G.fast" technology will take place this summer in Gosforth, Newcastle and Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire with about 4,000 homes and business able to participate.