JOBHUNTERS received some early Christmas cheer at the Examiner Jobs and Training Fair.

Staff from Huddersfield JobCentre Plus were on hand with details of almost 100 vacancies from retailers in the town seeking extra store staff for the run-up to Christmas.

Major employers, including Marks and Spencer, Matalan, TK Maxx, Argos and BHS are among those looking for temporary staff to help them cope during the busiest period of the year

Martine Wilkinson, vacancy service manager for JobCentre Plus, said: "Several retailers are looking to recruit from October for about 12 weeks up to Christmas. They are seeking additional sales staff, cashiers and people to work in stockrooms."

She added: "We have had a lot of students seeking temporary retail work as well as young mums who want to earn a little extra cash."

JobCentre Plus was among 25 exhibitors at the fair held at Huddersfield Town Hall yesterday.

Among them, recruitment agency Three Way Solutions Ltd, of Westgate, Huddersfield, was seeking candidates for permanent and temporary industrial and commercial posts.

Stuart Buckley, recruitment resourcer with the agency, said: "We have spoken to a lot of people who have been made redundant and are now looking for new openings."

Lyn Robinson, of the West Yorkshire Enterprise Agency, reported record levels of interest from people considering starting their own businesses.

She said: "We have had quite a few graduates asking about self-employment - and some people who are already in work.

"We have had quite a young crowd today."

Ms Robinson said the agency ran regular seminars to explain to people the pros and cons of self-employment before they took the plunge.

Phil Williams, of Huddersfield University, reported a good level of interest in the university's full-time, part-time and post-graduate courses.

The university was also promoting its open day, to be held on Saturday.

Other exhibitors at the event included the armed forces, West Yorkshire Police, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust, the Inland Revenue, energy giant Powergen and Kirklees Council.

The event was organised by the Examiner in association with JobCentre Plus.