A COMPANY has turned to eastern Europe in search of mushroom pickers after failing to dig up any in the region.

Greyfriars UK, based at Wath, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, has even opened a recruitment office in Latvia to overcome the problem of finding workers to pack and harvest its products.

Company bosses say there are not enough unemployed people in the Harrogate district who need the work.

According the Government figures, only 912 people (1.1 per cent) were unemployed in the area last November.

Company director John Smith said: "We would love to recruit more local workers, but it is extremely difficult in this region owing to the low unemployment rates.

"In common with other employers in the area, we are forced to look further afield for our workforce.

"As well as providing us with valued employees, the office gives Latvian people the chance to work legally in the UK and protects them from being exploited by agencies trading in illegal foreign workers."

Greyfriars has arranged accommodation, health and safety tuition and English lessons for its Latvian employees.

The vegetable producer was established in 1987 and supplies mushrooms to Morrisons and Tesco stores.

It has an annual turnover of £12m and won the packer of the year award at the 2004 re:fresh industry awards.