Palethorpes in Market Drayton to create 150 jobs

A Shropshire town was today handed an early Christmas present after a major employer announced the creation of up to 150 jobs.

The jobs bonanza has come at Palethorpes Pork Farms in Market Drayton.

The firm has advertised for the new roles to help it through Christmas and to deal with a bumper order book for next year.

The positions will be mostly seasonal roles in food production, but they could develop into full-time roles for the "right candidates".

Heather McClenaghan, from PMP Recruitment, which is handling the recruitment, said bosses are looking to fill between 100 and 150 roles, but the number could increase depending on the workload.

She said: "The number of seasonal jobs has increased since last year and there are more orders to handle. We do all the recruitment for Palethorpes Pork Farms and these positions are for the busy period over Christmas.

"For the right candidates they could develop into some permanent roles.

"Experience is always helpful but we do hire people without experience too and they will have a full induction and training and have to pass a test."

The number of jobs eclipses last year's creation of about 30 seasonal jobs at the Maer Lane site, where meat products and pies are made for sale around the country.