Sacked P&O staff queued at stalls at a recruitment fair.

One firm said 90% of those visiting its stall had lost their livelihoods in the mass staff cull on March 17.

Simon La Marr, training manager for National Express, said: "A total 90% of those that came over to use were from P&O.

"Most were looking for jobs as drivers although we also have posts for engineering, sales and customer services.

"Several made applications online straight away using the laptop we had here.

"We have had a really positive response."

The coach company has a depot in Tilmanstone.

The Recruitment and Support Fair, which offered 1,200 vacancies, was held at St Mary's Parish Centre in Cannon Street, Dover today.

It was organised by both Dover District Council and the Department for Work and Pensions and was planned with the 786 ferry workers in mind.

A total of 300 jobhunters, and those seeking more education and retraining, turned up, 100 being former P&O Ferries staff.

Marie Njie, a project director at the East Kent College Group, said: "We had more than 50 people come to our stall in the first few hours.

"A number of those from P&O were interested in our digital courses."

Some ex-P&O staff had joined the company straight from school, some immediately after finishing their GCSEs. It means many want to increase their qualifications or learn and train for new careers.

EKC colleague Mine Jane said: "We are able to offer A level courses and also vocational ones, such as in motor mechanics and construction.

"We can also refresh people's skills in cv writing and interview techniques."

Other organisations with stalls at the event included the Port of Dover, DFDS, Home Office, Dover Port Health Authority, Viking Maritime Group and Bakkavor, formerly Tilmanstone Salads.

The Health MOT Roadshow was also set up in the nearby DDC Stembrook car park offering free mobile health checks.

Cllr Trevor Bartlett, the leader of DDC, had formally opened the fair at 10am with Doug Bannister, chief executive of the Port of Dover, and Hamera Ahmad, Kent service leader at DPW.

Cllr Bartlett said: “We were delighted at the success of the Recruitment and Support Fair, and we would like to say a big thank you to everyone who came along, and to all our partners who supported the event.”