A NEW team is helping unemployed Billingham residents to find and keep jobs.

Billingham Action Team for Jobs gives practical help, advice and support to anyone aged 16 to 65 who wants to find work.

Advisors work on a one-to-one basis to try to improve people's skills, as well as finding suitable vacancies.

A spokesman said: "The aim of the Billingham Action Team includes helping to provide job-ready candidates for real vacancies offered by employers, and to assist in breaking down cultural and practical barriers which prevent or inhibit people from making reasonable journeys to work."

The team has identified a fear among unemployed people that they could lose out financially in moving from benefits to work, plus a lack of suitable public transport for people in work, and a lack of childcare.

It is hoping to work with unemployed people and other agencies to find solutions to these issues.

Anyone who would like help from the team can call (01642) 343434 for more details