More than 200 temporary jobs are being created at shops and factories in the run-up to Christmas.

Seasonal recruitment is reaching its peak as manufacturers and retailers brace themselves for their busiest time of the year.

Extra staff are being taken on in places including Carlisle, Gretna and Penrith to cope with demand.

Carlisle's council leader says he hopes some of the jobs may become permanent.

The two Marks & Spencer stores in Carlisle are recruiting 50 temporary staff this year.

Robbie Sarginson, store manager at the newly opened Foodhall at Kingstown Retail Park in Carlisle, spoke to the News & Star.

He said: “We are looking forward to celebrating our first Christmas in our new store and we’re pleased to be recruiting seasonal colleagues locally to help cope with demand.

“At Marks & Spencer, our seasonal team are always given a warm welcome and are valued for their contribution.

“Every year some of the team join us permanently, and some return Christmas after Christmas.”

Forty new jobs are being created at B&M stores, with county branches in Carlisle - and one each in Penrith, Workington and Whitehaven.

Debenhams, which has a store in The Lanes Shopping Centre in Carlisle, is on the search for 43 festive staff.

Elizabeth Dickinson, store manager, said: “The lead up to Christmas is our busiest time.

“Many colleagues who join us over this period stay on as permanent members of the team."

Supermarket Tesco is taking on between 20 and 25 new staff across its Victoria Viaduct and Warwick Road stores.

A spokesman said: “We’re also working with existing colleagues to ensure they’re given every opportunity for additional hours or different shifts over the Christmas period, should they require it.”

Between 30 and 40 new jobs will be created at the Gretna Gateway Outlet Village.

Peter Gardner, general manager, said: “In addition to this, many existing part time and weekend staff will benefit from more hours over the festive season.”

A spokeswoman at McVitie’s, which has a factory in Caldewgate, Carlisle, said: “We do take on some extra agency staff in Carlisle in the run up to December, but numbers are quite low.”

Cranstons which has stores in Carlisle, Brampton, Penrith and Orton Grange takes on a small number of extra production staff as well as students to help with bag packing and car parking at its food halls.

A spokeswoman said: “Senior management and some office staff also help out on the three busiest order collection days so customers may well be served by one of the directors.

“We take on four additional temporary staff at our production unit in Penrith.

"This is to ensure availability on products like the pigs in blankets and topped pies which are very labour intensive.”

Other stores have been recruiting as well - and it follows the job boosts provided by recent arrivals in the city.

The city recently welcomed Primark in The Lanes and stores like Toys ‘R’ Us, Menkind and Disney have all opened in time for Christmas.

Colin Glover, leader of Carlisle City Council, said: “This is another boost to the city and shows stores have confidence in the city and its workforce.

“I would hope that some of the jobs may become permanent.”