More than 20 top firms vied to hire Sun readers at the Sunemployment Roadshow yesterday (Wednesday).

Hundreds of hopeful jobseekers queued at the Newcastle Assembly Rooms event to meet companies recruiting in the North-East – and 24 readers landed jobs on the spot.

More than 36,000 roles are up for grabs this week as the giant jobs fair moves on to Manchester Town Hall today (Thursday) and The Oval in London tomorrow.

First to find work at Newcastle was Ashna Boyers. The 42-year-old former café owner was forced to close her business after falling ill.

She secured a receptionist job at her local Premier Inn just 20 minutes after arriving at the event.

Ashna said: “This is exactly what I was looking for.”

Clare Neale, 33, suffers from a speech impediment and had been out of work for the past 12 years.

But she stood up in front of the 300-strong crowd at the advice session to ask for an interview and won a job with KFC.

She said: “I can’t believe I’m coming home with a job.”

There is also help for jobseekers from interview skills to CV writing to college courses and apprenticeships.

Job chasers also have the chance to quiz top business brains and job experts at a daily panel debate chaired by TV chat show host Jeremy Kyle.

There is the chance to talk to leading Government ministers including Skills Minister Nick Boles and Minister for the Disabled Justin Tomlinson.