Hundreds of job seekers queue outside Leyland Morrisons as supermarket hosts open recruitment day

Morrisons has been forced to turn people away from a queue of around 150 job seekers attending a recruitment day at the supermarket.

Today, the store is hosting a recruitment drive as it takes on dozens of new staff to help with increased demand during the coronavirus lockdown.

It is inviting people to attend the store in person to apply for positions as pickers and delivery drivers.

But the recruitment drive appears to have exceeded the supermarket's expectations.

The event was due to last until 4pm, but staff began turning people away at 11.30am due to the growing length of the queue.

With strict 2m social distancing in place, hopeful applicants could be seen waiting in a long line, from the store's entrance all the way to Golden Hill Lane.

Mel Cooper, from Penwortham, managed to hand her application to recruiters after queuing for more than two hours.

She said: "I was there at 9.40am for the 10am start and queued for just over two hours to be seen.

"They stopped people joining the queue around 11.30am and started turning away under 18s."

What jobs are on offer?

Morrisons are seeking delivery drivers and pickers for its in-demand home delivery service.

The job involves preparing online customer orders for delivery and dispatch.

The rate of pay is not known, but Morrisons said the wage is 'competitive'.