MORE than 100 people in Burnley have found jobs in the past year as part of a drive to get the long-term unemployed back to work.

Over the last 12 months the Licence to Skill scheme has helped find jobs for 101 people across the borough.

The project run by Vedas Recruitment, St James' Row, and funded by government cash, helps businesses fill vacancies by putting forward those with industry recognised qualifications who have been out of work.

And today the town's MP hailed the scheme, praising organisers for their hard work.

Kitty Ussher said: "The Licence to Skill project has been a huge benefit to Burnley.

"I congratulate all the dedicated and supportive staff at Vedas and of course all the jobseekers that were able to find employment with help from their excellent support services".

The scheme is supported by Burnley Borough Council and several businesses in the borough.

People have been found work in retail and manufacturing industries and it is hoped the project can be expanded to include the construction trade.

In the past year Licence to Skill attended a job fair at Burnley Mechanics following the collapse of Granville Technologies.

After the owners of Time and Tiny computers went into administration officials from the project attended the event to hand out information to workers laid off from the firm's Simonstone plant.

They have also offered help to workers laid off when engineering company Viktor Achter wound up.