JOBSEEKERS are to benefit from the opening of a one-stop advice centre.

The opening of the Jobcentre Plus office, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, also signifies a key milestone for the service's office modernisation programme.

The North-East is the first region in the country to offer the updated facilities to all its customers.

Jobcentre Plus has been created to provide a better customer service for employers and jobseekers, with job finding and benefit services together under one roof.

Jeremy Groombridge, programme director at Jobcentre Plus, opened the Newton Aycliffe office.

He said: "I'm very proud of the achievement of Jobcentre Plus here in the North-East.

"It goes beyond the bricks and mortar, though.

"It's about a completely new service to make sure people get the support they need to get into work, as well as making sure they are getting all of the benefits they are entitled to in pleasant, modern surroundings."

During the past year, staff at Newton Aycliffe Jobcentre Plus helped 709 people into work and handled more than 1,000 vacancies.