American software group Puppet Labs is to create 100 new jobs in Belfast as part of an investment to develop a software engineering centre in the North.

Puppet Labs develops software that lets companies automate the configuration and management of machines and software employed in their businesses.

The US company's software is used by more than 20,000 organisations around the world, including Cisco, Cern, Twitter and the London Stock Exchange.

Arlene Foster, the North’s Minister for Enterprise, said the investment was secured by Invest NI despite stiff competition from other locations.

“Its arrival is a further boost to our already strong ICT sector which is playing a growing role in growing the local economy.”

She said the jobs would deliver a £3.7 million a year boost to the local economy.