A MAN has taken to Southampton city centre's streets wearing a sandwich board in a desperate bid to find work.

Former navy steward, Michael Marx, who has unsuccessfully applied for 40 jobs, has resorted to wearing a Depression era-style sandwich board in Southampton.

Michael, 64, has no interest in retiring and wants to keep on working.

He says he has had no luck at his local job centre, despite being trained in construction.

Since his last job, working for a Lymington-based builders which came to an end in November, he has applied for around 40 jobs.

Michael, who lives in Winn Road, said: “Some people may be embarrassed but I’m not.

"It's what people did in the 1930s.”

Mr Marx, who said he was prevented from starting a family because he “could never have afforded children", says society does not do enough to help people in his situation.

He added: "You’re not involved in society.

"If you’ve been in and out of work you can never have any savings, you retire with nothing.

“Of course, there’s people a lot worse off than me.

"But being unemployed, you don’t get any help - you’re made to feel like you’ve been mugged.

“I was out of work for 10 years once when I thought it would be about six months.

"Hundreds of employers will just reject you if you haven’t got everything they want.”

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: “We want all jobseekers to find work that fits their needs.

"Our dedicated Jobcentre Plus colleagues offer free advice and support, including signposting people to training opportunities.”

The UK's unemployment rate is currently at a four-decade low of 4.3 per cent, with total employment standing at a record 32.2 million.

But growth in average wages remains below inflation, hitting real wages.