The new headquarters for Sage cost £70m to build

Software firm Sage, which employs more than 1,000 people, has moved into a state-of-the-art complex in Newcastle.

Work on the £70m building began in July 2002, when staff were based in five different buildings in the city.

It is one of the first tenants of the £800m Newcastle Great Park, which is the city's largest ever homes, leisure and business development.

The new 380,000 sq ft building, set in 26 acres, provides employees with a 21st century workplace environment which includes a restaurant, shop, dry cleaning, photo processing and coffee shop.

By late autumn, there will also be a gym, and by next summer there will be a sports field on site.

The company has offices in 18 countries and employs more than 8,000 people worldwide.

Chief executive Paul Walker said: "Sage has grown from a small software start-up in 1983 to a multi-national business generating over £600m of revenues.

"During that time, the company has always supported the North East.

"The opening of our new headquarters is the start of the next phase of the company's growth."