A £60,000 project to help unemployed people in deprived areas of Darlington to find work has been launched.

The Central Into Work scheme, aimed at out-of-work residents in the Central, North Road, Northgate and Bank Top wards, will be a free service run by the borough council with funding from Jobcentre Plus and the European Social Fund.

It will be used to help to deliver the service and to create more opportunities for training and employment.

An employment link worker has been employed to work on a one-to-one basis with people looking for a job.

The officer will provide assistance with job searching, completing job applications and CVs and preparing people for interviews.

There will also be an Into Work grant to provide financial assistance towards training fees, childcare and travel costs.

People using the scheme will also be entitled to a £100 Back to Work Bonus when they find a job. The project will operate from offices within the wards, at times yet to be indetified, and at Darlington Central Library on Tuesday afternoons between 2pm and 4pm and on Thursday mornings from 10am until noon.

The employment link worker will also be at First Stop in Tubwell Row from 10am until noon every Wednesday.

Coun David Lyonette, the council's cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: "This is great news for Darlington. Central, North Road, Northgate and Bank Top have some of the highest unemployment rates in the town.

"This new project and the extra funding will help to provide new opportunities for residents to receive the assistance they need to help them find employment."

Anyone wanting information on the scheme should contact Kay Mellanby on 07967 178026.