OVER A THOUSAND people have already come through the doors as the Daily Echo Jobs Fair swung into action this morning.

A queue snaked around the Novotel hotel in Southampton with residents on the look out for employment or a new career.

And more than 300 people had turned up in the first half hour.

Representatives from 26 companies are on hand to offer support and job opportunities to job seekers.

The event, which runs until 3pm, also features seminars throughout the day on CV writing, success interview techniques, effective job searching, returning to work or changing direction.

There are also specialist talks on careers in IT, telecoms, community care and journalism with Daily Echo editor Ian Murray.

Companies and organisations include Priory Education Services, QinetiQ, the Army, RAF, Sunrise Senior Living, Solent NHS Trust, Red Funnel, Bupa Care, Domino's and Sparsholt College.

Advisors such as Jobs Centre Plus and the National Careers Service are also on hand with words of wisdom to attendees on how to land a new job.

Corporal Ian Tautz, from the RAF Careers Service, said: "There's a lot of people here so it's good.

"We've been getting a lot of interest in the RAF reserves and all the other trades as well especially engineering and medical work."

Jackie Kay, head of human resources at Priory Education Services, which is sponsoring the event, said: "It's a fantastic opportunity to be involved in.

"There's an exceptional turnout.

"It's very needed and from a social care point of view understanding what we do and getting the message out there that there are exciting career opportunities and jobs for people to come and work within the group."

Natalie Sprake, Daily Echo sales and recruitment manager, said: "We're really pleased with the fantastic turnout with job seekers queuing around the block before the doors opened.

"It's great to see a different businesses from different sectors.

"People have been receiving a lot of good CVs and there are lots of active job seekers."