HUNDREDS of long-term unemployed people have checked out the chances of working in a new Tesco store.

The retail giant is building an eco-store, which is set to open in February on land opposite Eston Recreation Ground, creating 450 jobs.

And with half of those guaranteed for the long-term unemployed through a regeneration partnership with Redcar and Cleveland Council, demand for the roles is high.

The authority’s Routes to Employment team wrote to 1,500 people who had been unemployed for six months or longer and had previously declared an interest in the roles.

Of those, 773 were invited for informal meetings with Tesco and more than 600 took up the invitation, with sessions held at St Peter’s Social Club in South Bank.

Now, 559 people are undergoing basic skills assessments for the roles. Interviews for the long-term unemployed posts will follow, with the recruitment process for the remainder of the jobs starting next month.