HUNDREDS of balloons were released to celebrate 80,000 people in Middlesbrough being helped into work.

The event, organised by Working Links, also saw a huge jigsaw created next to the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art.

Nine teams of staff, jobseekers and partner groups had two hours to follow a trail around the region, tackle challenges and piece together clues.

Neil Johnson, of Working Links, said: "This event is a way of bringing together our partners, local organisations, employers and jobseekers and celebrating working in partnership.

"We have reached a major milestone by helping so many people, but we could not have achieved it without the support of all our partners."