HUNDREDS of Trafford residents have been helped into employment thanks to a pioneering job-placement partnership.

Trafford Council has teamed up with not-for-profit organisation Work Solutions to help place more than 250 people into temporary council posts over the past two and a half years.

The service places a strong emphasis on finding work for more vulnerable residents, including those on incapacity benefit or income support, the over 50s, ethnic minority job seekers and long-term unemployed.

Councillor Stephanie Poole, Trafford Council's executive member for planning, property and prosperity, said: "The partnership with Work Solutions makes a lot of sense. It gives us a cost-effective way of filling vacancies and helps local people to make a fresh start.

"We've been extremely impressed with the quality of candidates who have applied for jobs via the scheme - and have gone on to offer many of them full time positions."

Drew Thomas, chief executive of Work Solutions, said: "The partnership has received dramatic results in the past two years, and we're looking forward to helping hundreds more Trafford residents into work in future years."