One of the city's most famous firms made it first appearance at the annual Carlisle Skills Fair as part of its search for new talent.

Food manufacturer McVitie's - which is owned by Pladis and employs more than 800 people at its plant in Caldewgate - was at the event in The Sands Centre as it searches for people who will replace its existing - but ageing - staff.

It was one of 95 employers and organisations at the fair, which was in its fourth year and organised by Carlisle's MP John Stevenson.

Estimates show between 2,500-3,000 job seekers attended the event.

Ben Platton, a human resources adviser with the company, said he was there to talk about its apprenticeship schemes in manufacturing and engineering.

He explained: "We have got a skills gap at the moment.

"The average age of our employees is about 55-years-old and we want to fill that gap with new blood."

The company has 670 directly-employed staff in Carlisle, with another 150 working there through agencies.

Mr Platton added: "We have had a lot of interest in both schemes."

The company also sent current apprentices to the fair to talk about their experiences on the schemes.

One was Sam Corrigan, 20, of Wetheral, who is in his third year with the firm's engineering programme.

He said: "It is a bit longer than most apprenticeships - it lasts for five years - but you get more specific training in each area of engineering."

Another major employer at the fair was tyre manufacturer Pirelli, of Dalston Road, Carlisle.

Karen Maunsell, its training officer, said: "We attended last year and there was a lot of interest.

"We had just put up our recruitment website and ended up with a lot of CVs."

Smaller businesses and employers were also at the event.

One of these was steel firm Thomas Graham, based at Kingmoor Park in Carlisle.

Christianne Kania, its marketing executive, said it was a good way to recruit new people into the company.

She said: "We like to try and bring in local people."

Mrs Kania admitted that this year the company is only looking for one apprentice but added: "This does help us to make people more aware of us."

Kate Finnemore, design and development manager with Harraby-based bag manufacturer Champan, said: "We are here just to let people know who we are.

"We are always looking for skilled machinists."

Some employers sent people who had found jobs through the fair to talk to job seekers.

One was Rob Currie, 28, of Harraby, Carlisle, who is an education officer with Carlisle United Community Sports Trust.

He is a qualified teacher who was working in John Stevenson's office when he attended last year.

He said: "I had a wander around and told the person on the stand I was a qualified teacher."

This led to a request for his CV and a job offer.

"I never thought I would go into football being a qualified teacher," he added.

Lauren Connor, 25, of Yewdale, is a facilities coordinator with Direct Rail Services in Kingmoor, Carlisle. She has a similar story.

She joined the firm as a business apprentice in 2013 through an agency she came into contact with at the fair.

Before this she had been working as a hairdresser.

"I had done it (hairdressing) and I wanted to have a change," she said.

Several jobseekers spoke about the event.

Amy Brenan, 16, from Upperby, said: "I have come because I am not sure about my career."

Her friend Megan Phillips, 16, of Dalston, added: "I am interested in working in the police so I will go and speak to them."

Mr Stevenson was delighted with how the event had gone.

"This is the fourth year it has been on and I think we have got as many businesses as we have ever had," he said.

"I think there is an appetite in the business community to try and attract young talent with their apprenticeship schemes and other opportunities that they are offering."

He added: "I will continue with it provided there is a need for it."