Weston-super-Mare MP John Penrose has hailed a ‘huge team effort’ with more than 1,000 jobseekers believed to have attended Weston-super-Mare Jobs Fair yesterday (Wednesday).

Hopefuls flocked to Weston College Conference Centre to meet advisors and exhibitors from more than 50 national and North Somerset-based firms, including McDonald’s, Bristol Airport and Thatchers Cider.

Speaking at the fair, Mr Penrose said: “We’re hoping to break records this year; last year was a record jobs fair and we’re hoping to set a new one this year.

“So far it’s looking very promising, we’ve had lots of people through the door and a record number of exhibitors.

“There’s a good buzz inside and lots of people looking for what suits them.”

Mr Penrose praised the efforts of the event organisers.

He added: “The team have been brilliant, and I’ve got to say the Mercury’s been brilliant too.

“Our other sponsors have been superb and this needs to be a community effort with Weston coming together to try to help deal with the town’s unemployment problems.

“We’re lucky they aren’t that huge in this area, but it is the community coming together and it’s been great – thank you to everybody, it’s been a huge team effort.”

Mr Penrose’s sentiments were echoed by exhibitors at the fair.

Financial director at Thatchers Cider, Matthew Gazzard, told the Mercury he was ‘impressed’ with the convention.

He said: “This is the third year I have been involved with and from my perspective it looks like this has been the best-attended and best-supported Weston Jobs Fair.”

Karen Upward, of McDonald’s, added: “It’s gone really well, we’ve had a lot of interest from different age groups.

“I think the fair has been really well organised and there’s been a nice flow of people.

“I’m very passionate about working for McDonald’s so I love to see people and get them interested in the company.”

Fair organiser Celine McAslan was confident of a record-breaking attendance.

She said: “I’m really pleased, it just gets better and better every year.

“We’re hoping that we have reached 1,000 people and we could not have done it without the participation of all the companies involved.”