Budget holiday company lowcosttravelgroup.com, based in East Grinstead, has started a recruitment drive to expand its cruising division.

According to a company statement, lowcostcruising.com, which was launched in autumn, has smashed it sales targets and is growing quickly.

The arm, which offers holidays from 19 cruise operators including Cunard, P&O and Royal Caribbean International, employs four people.

Another 20 will be recruited by the end of the year.

Group chief executive Paul Evans said: "We are proud to be investing in our local community as we expand our cruising product in 2007 and beyond."

Mr Evans, former managing director of Crawley-based First Choice Holidays, started lowcosttravelgroup.com in November 2004 as a rival to lastminute.com.

The company, in London Road, also operates lowcostholidays.com, lowcostbeds.com, lowcostvillarentals.com, lowcoastseats.com and lowcost-skiing.com.