JOB seekers did not get the cold shoulder when they went to the Women's Royal Voluntary Service, looking for work.

Demand for the charity's frozen meals delivery service has meant the WRVS has had to move into a factory unit three times larger than their old premises - all within 18 months of starting up in business.

The expansion has meant the WRVS has had to recruit more staff , taking the workforce from two people to nine.

The Middlesbrough based Meals with Care are reaching markets beyond the traditional meals on wheels service to pensioners.

Helen Mellor of the WRVS says meals are being ordered by parents for the youngsters at university on Teesside, by people newly discharged from hospital and those who have not got time to prepare, cook and eat a meal.

Food services manager Barry Armitage said: "By opening these new premises, working in conjunction with our newly opened unit in Derwentside, we are now able to offer our Meals with Care service to anyone, not just the elderly, from North Yorkshire to the Scottish borders.''

He added: "Many district and county councils in the North-East are now using our facilities to provide and extend their much needed meal delivery services.''

The new premises, on Queensway Court, were officially opened by Ashok Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said: "This is a true success story in the region for many reasons. WRVS is providing an excellent service to the local community by offering this frozen meal delivery service and it has brought extra employment to Teesside.''