employment minister Andrew Smith has launched a new national jobs hotline.

For the price of a local telephone call unemployed job hunters can call 0845 6060 234.

They are then put in touch with appropriate Employment Service Advisers such as those pictured here at the Job Centre in Blackhorse Street, Bolton.

Callers can then be informed about a range of local employer vacancies and others throughout the UK.

There is a textphone for people with hearing difficulties - 0845 6055 255 and a line for Welsh language speakers - 0845 606 7890.

Advisers have access to a data base of more than 316,000 job vacancies and can put callers in touch with an employer or arrange a job interview.

The Hotline is open from 9am to 6pm weekdays and from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.

Mr Smith said the service could be used by anyone who was unemployed, whether or not they were claiming benefit.

"Employment Service Direct represents an exciting and innovative approach to help people find jobs, benefiting existing Employment Service clients as well as encouraging new users and highlighting the jobs employers have to offer," Mr Smith said.

Employment Service Chief Executive Leigh Lewis said: "The Employment Service is very pleased to be introducing this important and additional service to help more people move swiftly into employment."

Employment Service Direct is being widely advertised on television, radio and in local newspapers.

It is to run until March, 1999 and its future beyond then will be considered if there is a big demand.

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