A PARTNERSHIP project has helped 1,100 Middlesbrough people return to work since May last year.

Working Links is the public-private sector company that runs nine of Britain's 15 employment zones.

Middlesbrough zone director Brian Bell said: "Working Links has been busy attacking the base of unemployment for over a year-and-a-half now, both in the Employment Zone and through the Action Teams initiative.

"We have seen phenomenal success, getting people who have struggled in dole queues for years back into sustainable jobs.''

"I am confident that we are getting to grips with the pockets of unemployed people that would normally contribute to the UK's jobless statistics year in, year out.''