LINDA Hamlett was not alone in celebrating her new job this week - the men and women who helped her find it were all smiles too.

For the new customer advisor at B&Q is the 1,500th South Bank and Grangetown resident to find a job through a Job Connect scheme.

Ms Hamlett, who has lived in Grangetown for most of her life, said she approached the Job Connect scheme after being made redundant.

She said: "I was delighted with all the help and support I got from Job Connect.

"It's terrific how many people they've helped, it shows they're doing their job, too."

Ms Hamlett has one of the 252 jobs created at B&Q's new store, in Skippers Lane, South Bank. The store opens today.

Job Connect, at Eston JobCentre, is a partnership between the Employment Service, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, the Grangetown and South Bank Single Regeneration Budget and the European Social Fund.

The project receives £55,000 of European funding annually.

Graham Hubbard, Job Connect project officer, said: "This is a tremendous milestone for Job Connect. Since the project began in 1996, unemployment in the target areas has been cut by more than half, dropping from 23 per cent to 11 per cent.

"But we must not forget unemployment in South Bank and Grangetown remains high compared with Redcar and Cleveland as a whole."