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One and a half thousand job seekers queued for three hours or more in a desperate attempt to nab one of just 40 positions at supermarket giants Aldi.

The hopeful men and women joined the queue at 10am on Friday despite the interviews not starting until 1pm, forcing staff to start 20 minutes early.

Each candidate was given a mini-interview with management teams from branches of the supermarket before handing in their CV and contact details.

A teenager, who did not want to be named and joined the 1,500-person queue at noon at the Bridgnorth store in Shropshire, said: “I knew it started at 1pm so I wanted to get here early, but I didn’t expect there to be that many people.

“I walked right up to the store and then noticed the queue - and my heart sank. I walked to the back and it just went on and on, I didn’t think it would ever stop.

“Before I got there I thought I would have a good chance of getting the job, but when I saw all those people I lost hope a bit.

“The mini-interview went well, but it is hard to know if I will get the job as they have seen so many people.

“It is hard for young people like myself to get a job, there just isn’t the opportunities out there and people don’t want to give you a chance.

“I went for this job because you have to take what you can get, like I said, the opportunities are limited.”

The applicants, who were hoping for stock and store assistant positions with a minimum of 20 hours a week, are likely to find out if they have got the job within the next month.

A mum-of-two who queued since 10am added: “I heard a rumour that there would be a lot of people here so I got here at 10am and was one of the first.

“I had to wait three hours, but it was relief when I saw how many people really did turn up. I couldn’t believe it.

“It looked more like auditions for X-Factor, not a job for Aldi.

“Hopefully I got the job, but you never know, with over a thousand people there it is hard to judge. I don’t know if being one of the first was an advantage or not.

“I need this job to keep paying the bills and keep everything ticking over, including feeding my two children and getting them new school uniforms.”

Area manager for the supermarket, Leon Donald, said: “A previous event similar to this attracted around 1,500 people so we knew this event would be well-attended.”

The 40 positions available were split between West Midlands’ stores in Dudley, Stourbridge, Halesowen, Brierley Hill and Netherton.

There were also positions available in Wollaston., Northants., and Kidderminster, Worcs.