THE mayor of Great Aycliffe was the special guest at a recruitment company’s Christmas party last week.

Councillor Barbara Clare attended Whurk Recruitment festive Champagne reception to show the new business how much it is valued in the community.

Founded by managing director Laura Claughan in April, Whurk Recruitment is located on Aycliffe Business Park in Newton Aycliffe.

The company focuses on a number of sectors, including manufacturing, engineering and distribution, and employs eight people.

Coun Clare said: “I am pleased to be able to share Whurk’s celebration. It is one of my main aims as mayor to build links with Aycliffe’s businesses, to let them know how much they are valued by the community.

“Small and medium enterprises comprise by far the largest part of County Durham’s economy. If each of them were to employ just one extra worker, the county’s unemployment problem would be solved.”

Ms Claughan said it was a pleasure to welcome Coun Claire, adding: ‘There is a deep satisfaction in putting the right person in the right job, especially just before Christmas.”