MALVERN Hills District Council is offering unpaid work placements for up to 13 weeks to unemployed adults in the region.

The placements, for two people, would be in grounds maintenance and refuse and recycling services.

It is hoped participants would improve their chances of finding paid work by gaining experience, improving their skills and obtaining a reference.

Tina Beckett, learning and development manager at MHDC, said: "One of the key aims for this council is to lead and support the local community, especially during the current economic downturn, by ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity to work. Although this is the first time we have been involved with a scheme like this we hope it will be a great success so that many other young adults can benefit from the same opportunity in forthcoming months.”

The scheme is being run in partnership with employment agency Pertemps.