DROITWICH Spa is enjoying a jobs boom - with 500 vacancies up for grabs.

The town's Jobcentre is struggling to find the hundreds of workers needed by Spa firms because the town's unemployment rate is so low.

A recruitment drive is under way to find staff for positions in manufacturing, health, retail, distribution, driving and catering.

Droitwich has 237 people who are registered as job seekers. Just 2.3 per cent of the town's population is without work, compared to 3.5 in the West Midlands.

A Jobcentre spokeswoman said: "The number of vacancies is well above average which is very positive news, especially since we have seen many redundancies this year.

"Several leading manufacturers have moved into the area recently and they need staff to run their sites. Pleasingly, it seems a number of town firms have won new contracts. Many companies are also seeking staff in the run up to Christmas."

Droitwich Spa's Tory MP, Peter Luff, said: "This is good news, although not surprising.

"Droitwich has a diverse economy, which is a strength of the town and with UK manufacturing being at a nine-year low, it may provide some insulation against future problems.

"However, crude figures can conceal the personal suffering of the victims of redundancies, for example the Christian Salvesen workers who cannot find suitable employment."

There is an open day at the St Andrew's Street Jobcentre this Saturday from 9am to 1pm.

People can gain information about town jobs, particularly at Koito, a leading manufacturer at Hampton Lovett Industrial Estate which is seeking 50 workers.