A DELIVERY company is taking on 30 new people in Winchester over the next three months as orders in the city rise by 1,200 per cent.

Exclusive new figures show that the number of riders cycling around Winchester for Deliveroo has more than doubled in the last 12 months.

Deliveroo, a worldwide company that delivers food from local restaurants to food-lovers via bike, has seen its order rate rise by 1,259 per cent in the previous year.

It comes as the company appeals to new riders in the city to link up with the firm.

The new riders are being sought between now and January 2018.

Dan Warne, UK managing director for Deliveroo, said: "Our rapid growth in Winchester means customers have more choice, restaurants are able to increase their revenue and riders have opportunity to choose well-paid, flexible work.

"Deliveroo's fundraising will mean greater growth and new innovations.

"More restaurants will be able to deliver their food direct to people's homes or offices and there will be more work available for people who want to be riders and fit their work around their life rather than fitting their life around work.

"Now, right across Winchester, we are looking for more riders to join us as we grow, so we can deliver even more amazing food to our brilliant customers."

The company has also secured $385 million in new investment, with the organisation itself valued at more than $2 billion.

James Townley, a rider in Winchester, said: "When I was a student, it was ideal as I could still fit riding with Deliveroo around my life. Even though my weekly changed so much from one week to the next, it didn't matter because the model is so flexible."

Riders delivering on behalf of the company are self-employed, but link up with the service to deliver food and other goods.

It uses an algorithm, named Frank, which is based on predictive technology to evaluate ways of distributing orders based on location of restaurants, riders and customers.

Back in March, concerns were raised about Deliveroo when Winchester man Simon Jones said he was left to foot a £700 bill when two Deliveroo workers damaged the back of his Ford Focus, as the cyclists were uninsured.

Two months later, police said they were cracking down on rogue Deliveroo cyclists who fail to obey the rules of the road at a Police and Communities Together (PACT) meeting.