CARLISLE'S skills fair has proved so successful that the idea is set to be copied.

The man behind it has also started to look forward to its fifth anniversary next year.

This event took place in The Sands Centre for the fourth year running last week, attracting an estimated 2,500-3,000 job seekers who went to see stands for 95 Cumbrian employers and training providers.

It was organised by the city's MP John Stevenson, who was pleased with the way it went.

He said: "I think that the attendance was as good as any year previously. It was well supported; we were full to capacity in The Sands Centre.

"The important thing was about bringing employers together who may be interested in a job. One woman left saying that she had two interviews lined up for the following Monday."

Mr Stevenson added that he would continue with the fair as long as he felt there was a demand for it to go ahead.

He said: "Next year it would be nice to get the Skills Minister up here, like we had last year, to see what we do in Cumbria."

"One of my MP colleagues is now set to replicate the idea in Balckpool," he added.