JOBCENTRE services are being restored to Tavistock on a part-time basis, two years after the Jobcentre branch closed in the town.

Jobseekers will no longer have to make the journey to Plymouth every time they need to visit Jobcentre Plus whether that is to sign on or search for work.

The new service is due to an increase in unemployment in West Devon — the number of people registered for Jobseekers allowance in West Devon has more than doubled since January 2008.

Alarmed by the increasing figures, West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox has been calling for services to be restored for some time and raised the subject in the House of Commons.

He said he had been receiving many letters and emails from people who were being forced to travel all the way to Plymouth or Exeter to get help — an expense they could ill afford.

He cautiously welcomed the news from Jobcentre Plus about outreach services in Tavistock and Okehampton, saying it was important to monitor what was being offered and whether it would be designed to meet the needs of local people.

The new service will be available at the the Quay in Plymouth Road and will operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am to noon and 1pm to 5pm.

It will offer fortnightly signing on interviews and job search advice from how to fill in CVs to how to look for jobs.

Information on job vacancies will be limited and people are being advised to log onto the website: http://www.direct.gov.uk/lookingforwork">www.direct.gov.uk/lookingforwork to find out about the latest vacancies.

District marketing manager Sue Kessell said more and more vacancies could be applied for online and it would be in people's interests even if they did not have a computer at home, to organise access to the internet.

'Job vacancies go online within ten minutes and they can be checked 24-hours a day. People with access to the internet are in the best possible position to pick up on vacancies.'

Jobcentre Plus district manager Michelle Maslen said: 'In addition to providing a service from the Quay, we are also planning to install a free phone at the West Devon Borough Council offices at Kilworthy Park.

'I hope that by extending the services provided in Tavistock and the surrounding area, we can better help jobseekers in their search for work.'