BRITAIN'S biggest container terminal today announced a huge jobs boost for the area – and is holding a special recruitment day for job-seekers.Felixstowe port is to employ an extra 150 quayside staff immediately and may add up to another 150 in the first half of next year.

BRITAIN'S biggest container terminal today announced a huge jobs boost for the area – and is holding a special recruitment day for job-seekers.

Felixstowe port is to employ an extra 150 quayside staff immediately and may add up to another 150 in the first half of next year.

And there is likely to be further jobs in the future, too, when it builds its new £80 terminal extension with the possibly of 230 construction jobs and 170 to operate the 40-acre development when it opens.

A port spokesman said the immediate need for extra staff stemmed from ongoing efforts to improve levels of customer service, compete against other European ports, and deal with an ever-increasing number of vessels.

Workers needed are to join existing teams of berth operators and tug drivers.

A recruitment day will be held at the port on Saturday and anyone interested in applying for the new jobs is invited to attend.

People should go to Tomline House at the port, between 10.30am and 3.00pm. Entry is by Dock Gate No 1.

Applicants should be over 21 years of age, physically fit, prepared to work shifts, day and night in all weathers, and hold a full driving licence.

The port already employs 2,600 people at Felixstowe – contributing more than £70 million a year in wages to the local economy – and many thousands of others in port-related businesses rely on it for their livelihoods.