ONE of the region's JobCentres has been praised for helping a record number of people to find work.

Staff from the Middlesbrough central JobCentre were invited to London to meet Employment Minister Tessa Jowell as a reward for their efforts in the past year.

The staff, including manager Kath Robson, were among people from 21 Jobcentres across the UK to be invited to receive a performance award.

Mrs Robson said: "I am delighted to receive this award. It is a real reflection of the effort everyone in the job centre has put into finding people jobs.

"But it is important to thank the employers of Middlesbrough. Without close cooperation with local employers we would not have been so successful."

Between September and December last year, the staff at the Middlesbrough centre found jobs for more than 2,400 unemployed people.

Another 20 offices across the country received the same commendation.

Congratulating the Middlesbrough team, Mrs Jowell said: "I know that you and your colleagues have worked very hard to achieve your award and I hope that you are very proud of your achievements.

"I am particularly delighted to have the opportunity to meet many of the people who made a real and major contribution in helping more than 1.3 million jobless back to work."