Hundreds vie for Weston-super-Mare pier jobs

Work continues to prepare the pier for its reopening in the summer

More than 700 people are vying for 250 jobs which will be created when Weston-super-Mare's Grand Pier reopens.

The applicants will have a minute to give a short presentation about themselves and those successful will go on to the next selection round in May.

A pier spokesman said he was surprised with the quality of the candidates and was sure the vacancies could be filled with local people.

"Everyone was very positive about Weston, and the pier," he added.

About 2,000 people turned out for a recruitment day at the town's Winter Gardens Pavilion in March and that has now been whittled down to 700.

The pier's pavilion was destroyed by fire in 2008. Since then builders have been working to restore the seaside venue, which is due to open in June.

More than £39m has been spent on the redevelopment, the pier's owners said.