MORE than 30 protesters occupied Bolton's Employment Services office today to highlight opposition to the controversial Job Seekers Allowance.

The protesters, who are taking part in march from Hull to the Labour Party Conference in Blackpool, burst into the office on Great Moor Street, where claimants sign on and job vacancies are advertised.

They then marched around the town centre before leaving for Blackpool.

Organiser, Alec McFadden said when the Job Seekers Allowance is introduced next week the unemployed would be forced into the lowest paid jobs or lose their benefit.

Mr McFadden cited a number of jobs advertised at the office including one offering £90 per week for six 12 hour night shifts as a lab technician.

He said: "After next week, no-one will be able to refuse these jobs. If they do they will lose their dole and it will give employers a licence to drive down wages even further.

"This could lead to a great deal of frustration on the part of the unemployed putting benefits staff at a risk of attack and could even lead to an increase in suicides among the unemployed.

"We are calling on the Labour Party to make a commitment to scrap the JSA and provide a proper benefits system which will take care of people from the cradle to the grave."

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