AT the end of a gloomy week for the Worcester economy, a ray of light emerged in the form of 300 Christmas jobs in the city.

Worcester Jobcentre Plus is to launch a Christmas hotline on Wednesday, for people interested in applying for the seasonal posts.

The news will come as a small relief after it was revealed that up to 700 people at the former Kays catalogue may lose their jobs.

As exclusively revealed by the Worcester News last week, the company's owner, Shop Direct, plans to close the warehousing facilities in Bransford Road.

It has admitted that up to 500 people could be made redundant, but the Transport and General Workers' Union believes the number could be as many as 694 as the whole site closes.

Shop Direct has said the plan will not take effect until the summer of 2007, but workers fear it could be a lot sooner, and say people are already being let go.

These Christmas jobs may provide those workers with a temporary stop-gap.

More than 40 employers will be working in partnership with Jobcentre Plus to recruit staff through the hotline, including Royal Mail, Marks & Spencer, Next, Bhs and WH Smith.

Dave Gilbert, manager for Worcester Jobcentre Plus, said: "Jobs on offer are for retail assistants, catering staff, warehouse operatives, postal sorting office staff and many more. Most of the jobs are temporary, although some positions may become permanent in the New Year.

"This is a unique opportunity for people looking for work to conduct their job search from the comfort of their own home.

"It enables them to discuss the vacancies with our staff and apply over the telephone.

"This helps speed up the recruitment process helping employers to find the right people for their vacancies and ensuring our jobseekers are placed into the most suitable jobs in the shortest possible time."

Job hunters can ring 01905 684641 or 01905 684637 between 9.30am and 5.00pm from Monday to Friday for details of the full and part-time posts.