Jobless figures out today show Kent dole queues are shortening - but one businesswoman is struggling to find recruits for her catering company.

Dawn Phelps, co-founder of Healthy Roots, in Ashford, said that despite offering a £21,000 annual salary, there are a lack of applicants with the right skills-set.

Her expanding business uses locally-sourced produce to prepare children's meals.

Dawn, pictured left, said: "I really don't understand it - we're offering well above the average salary, but local people don't seem to want to work in the kitchen.

"Some of the people that have applied with us aren't comfortable working with naturally fresh ingredients, so we do need to re-train and in some cases they're not willing to be re-trained."

Another problem Dawn faces is poorly-written CVs.

She added: "About 85% of the responses I get are in text speak. If you can't be bothered to have the attention to detail to write something properly, how are you going to be able to follow a recipe?"