ALMOST 1,000 people have applied for 100 jobs to be created at a new John Lewis store in Poole.

And around 700 of those applications were received in just the past week.

The retailer plans to open a £6 million store this autumn at Poole Commerce Centre at Branksome’s Pottery Junction.

By yesterday, 919 applications had been received for jobs at the shop, which will be named John Lewis at Home.

Jeff Allen, chairman of Poole Chamber of Trade, said: “It’s a sign of the times. At least people are looking for a job rather than not. It’s the same all over. People are going to get jobs if they can and there are not very many.”

There were 2,462 people officially out of work in the town as of April, with the unemployment rate at 3.1 per cent and rising.

Cllr Ron Parker, Borough of Poole portfolio holder for the economy, said anything that created new jobs in Poole was a positive thing and it was good that 100 people would find themselves back in work.

He added: “At the end of the day this is marvellous news and we’re at the forefront of this new project.”

John Lewis’s personnel manager Barbara Jacobs said: “We’re absolutely thrilled with the number and quality of applications we’ve received since we first announced we will open a new shop in Poole later this year.”

The store is a new venture from the high-end retailer, focusing solely on the home sector, and will be around one-third of the size of a normal John Lewis department store.

Other big-name stores signed to open at Poole Commerce Centre include Mothercare, Boots and Pets at Home, as well as a state-of-the-art gym.

John Lewis recently agreed to give some of its land to Poole council so that it could create an extra lane to ease traffic on Poole Road.

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