A HYNDBURN firm said it was forced to employ temporary staff from Eastern Europe in the run-up to Christmas because not enough staff could be found locally.

Express Gifts, based in Henry Street, Church, has taken on 900 extra workers over the festive period to cope with the increase demand for its products.

This year, 600 of those were employed locally but a further 300 were recruited, through employment agencies, from Poland and other Eastern European countries.

A spokesman for the firm, which also has a call centre on Clayton-le-Moors Business Park that deals with customers' orders and accounts, said: "We have done this for the last few years. We advertised the jobs extensively to recruit local people.

"Unemployment has fallen locally and, therefore, when it became apparent that the vacancies weren't going to be filled we were forced to look elsewhere.

"There is nothing unique about Hyndburn, this is happening all over the country. People from Eastern European countries are attracted here because wages are higher."

He said the company had held an open day as part of its local recruitment drive but only around 15 people attended.

The spokesman added that the employment agencies found foreign workers with relevant skills and work experience for the company and have also helped the workers find accommodation across East Lancashire.

Last year the company employed 220 people from European Union countries.

Out of those 10 stayed on as permanent staff and the rest went back home.

Express Gifts, the largest company within the Findel plc group, is one of the UK's leading mail order companies selling a wide range of greeting cards, gifts, home and garden items through its Studio and Ace catalogues.

More than three million catalogues are distributed each year by the company.