Directors at Scottish water quality engineering firm Panton McLeod have been left shocked after an advert for a new staff member attracted more than 100 applications in just four days.

While other companies across the country have been cost-cutting and trimming their workforces, Borders-based Panton McLeod has seen the economic downturn as a perfect time to grow its business.

But the firm was left stunned after it placed an advert for a new labourer position – and received more than 100 applications from as far afield as Glasgow, Newcastle and Cardiff.

Operations Director Paul Henderson said: "We were shocked when we started to receive so many applications for a single junior position at the company. In the past, we've put adverts out for positions and had very little interest but now, because of the state of the economy, we’ve been bombarded with CVs and notes of interest.

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"The construction and engineering industry is in a bad state at the moment and there are many people across the whole UK who are currently out of work. So far we've had more than 100 applications for our position in just under a week and it is getting to the point where we will have to remove the advert - as we just can't spare any more time to go through all of the CVs we’re getting."

Mr Henderson believes that with so much interest in the job they will be able to find the right person to join the team and help the firm grow further across the UK.

Panton McLeod, based in Newton St Boswells, is one of the UK's leading water cleaning engineering firms and is one of only a handful with the expertise to clean the hidden structures which deliver safe, clean water to millions of homes and businesses.

The company has spent almost 20 years perfecting highly-specialised cleaning methods and developing treatments, which thoroughly disinfect underground water storage tanks – known as service reservoirs - without compromising water quality.

Its services are in demand by some of the biggest water companies in the country, including Scottish Water, Severn Trent, Thames, Northumbrian and Yorkshire.

(GK/KMcA)