MORE than 700 people have applied for 30 new jobs created by the arrival of a major store. Applications for the 15 full-time and 15 part-time vacancies at Focus DIY in Liskeard hit 'excessive levels' according to the local jobcentre. The vacancies were advertised both in the JobCentre and the Cornish Times. Vacancy services officer at Liskeard JobCentre Barbara Thomas had to deal with 150 telephone inquiries on the first day the jobs were advertised. 'The phone was literally buzzing non-stop on the first day, and there were lots of people coming in for application forms in person as well,' said Barbara. Focus have only employed people living in Liskeard or within 15 minutes' travelling time of the store which is being built on the out-of-town Bubble site opposite Morrisons. Such was the interest in the new jobs that Focus decided to suspend advertising after just 11 days. 'I think that because the vacancies were advertised in the paper, a lot of people were made aware of the jobs and were interested,' said Barbara. 'There was an excessive level of interest in the jobs and nobody really expected it.' Vacancies at the new Focus store attracted applicants currently in employment as well as those seeking work. Liskeard district and county councillor Roger Jones said this was because of the need for 'real jobs' in the area. 'It shows that people living in the area want proper jobs, full-time employment, not just seasonal work, for example,' he said. Cllr Jones thinks that the new Argos store, which will create an estimated 40-70 new jobs and be situated next to Focus on the Bubble, will attract similar interest from residents. The Focus applications have now been processed, with the full staff ready for the £1m store's opening date of April 14. A spokesperson for the company said that the store would bring an estimated £300,000 annually to the local economy.