A new job club has been launched in Kingswood to help out-of-work people get back into employment.

It has been set up by the Conservatives in response to the increasing number of redundancies and company closures across the Bristol region.

The Kingswood Jobs Club is held every Wednesday from 2pm to 3pm at the community centre in the High Street and offers practical advice to jobseekers on how best to present themselves to a future employer.

David Lake, managing director of a company which makes LED traffic lights in Fishponds, is one of the volunteer advisers and regularly takes the weekly sessions.

He said: "We will help people to write a CV and show them how best to describe their skills and suitability.

"Interviewing techniques are vitally important and job applicants must know how and what to say to get an employer to take notice."

One of the jobseekers was Joyce Russell Phillips, of Kingswood, who said she was a self-employed piano teacher who needed to boost her income.

She said: "Listening to what they have said today has got me thinking I could apply for a job and I could be competent enough.

"It has been good for me because I have not written a CV for 25 years. I have got myself into a bit of a rut and I think this will given me the confidence to take some positive action."

Jobless Alan Golding, 52, also from Kingswood, said he was a skilled engineer but had been in and out of jobs because of health problems.

He said: "I am hoping to get a part-time job and today I've been finding out if I'm fit and able enough to do it.

"I find the Job Centres are a bit intimidating. They insist I go to some job interviews when they know I'm not really suitable.

"And, of course, the employers know that the wrong people are being sent for the jobs.

"This jobs club is much better because it's informal and people listen to what you have to say and the advice I have been getting is good."

Eric Pickles, chairman of the Conservative Party, said similar job clubs had been set up all over the country.

He said: "This is a very practical way of making a real difference to people who are looking for employment.

"They are getting advice from local business people and are also getting mutual support from each other."

Chris Skidmore, the Tories' parliamentary candidate for the Kingswood constituency, has organised the club and helps give advice.

The 30-year-old author, who lives in Bitton, said: "It has been running for a few weeks now and it has been a pleasure to work with people who have come along to the meetings."