RECRUITMENT has started for about 110 jobs that have been created in a redundancy-affected corner of County Durham.

Application forms are now ready for the jobs that are being provided by a healthcare development company in Shildon.

The recruitment drive has started days after the town was left reeling from the news that 200 jobs could be lost after the closure of Calsonic Kansie, in New Shildon, which is one of the biggest car parts plants in the region.

The Portland Group is opening a £2.5m centre in Byerley Road, Shildon, to care for the elderly and people with learning and mental health difficulties.

The new venture, which covers an area of about 1.5 acres and is near to the town centre. It will join a portfolio of properties operated by the company in Morpeth, Newcastle, Washington and Willington, near Durham City.

The Willington-based company is looking for people to staff the 60-bed unit, which is expected to go into operation in October.

A spokesman for the company said: "We will be looking to employ people from the end of July/August, and once recruitment is completed they will be trained in our other units in the North-East.''

Application forms are available from Bishop Auckland Job Centre or by calling Portland Care on (01388) 747698.