Dozens of residents from across Huddersfield and the valleys queued out of the doors at the first-ever jobs fair in the Colne Valley.

A total of 400 people from Colne and Holme valleys and further afield went through the doors of Marsden Mechanics Hall on Monday afternoon and evening to talk to representatives from 20 local employers in a bid to find a job that fits and a brighter future.

It was the second jobs fair to be organised by Colne Valley MP, Jason McCartney, who held one in Holmfirth earlier this year.

Syngenta, Sainsburys and Thornton and Ross were just a few of those on the lookout for new recruits and apprentices to fill dozens of roles, alongside public sector employers Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and the British Army.

Huddersfield Giants player, Eorl Crabtree, opened the event, which was open to anyone of working age.

Mr McCartney said: “It’s been a fantastic event and I’m really happy with the number of people who have come along.

“It’s also been great to see so many employers here. We even had some companies who asked to attend today, which brought along more opportunities.

“People from all walks of life and ages have turned up. It’s great to give people the opportunity to meet employers face to face.

“I’ve even talked with one man in his 60s who is looking for a job but said that he wasn’t great at writing CVs so was really happy that he was being given the chance to meet companies in person.”

Hailing it a ‘success’, he is now in discussions about putting on another event within the Colne and Holme valleys.

The MP said: “We will now be giving a lot of thought to where we will hold the next event.

“It’s good to be in a position to keep going with the events. People don’t just come from the valleys but from all over Huddersfield.”