DIY chain B&Q is to create 4,000 jobs during the next year under a store opening programme.

The firm, owned by retail group Kingfisher, said it would invest £200 million opening 17 stores in 2003 to take advantage of the popularity of DIY.

It currently has 320 stores, including 90 B&Q Warehouses, employing more than 33,000 people and serving more than three million customers a week.

Mike Cutt, human resources director at B&Q, said: "The DIY market has changed tremendously in the past five years.

"We've seen a change from DIY to home improvement, the growth of BIY (buy it yourself), the growth of services such as installation and wider ranges of products from entry price level to products you would usually only see at specialist outlets."

Stores opening in the next six months include Bournemouth, Tunbridge Wells, Farnborough and Middlesbrough.