NEARLY 500 people have applied for 100 jobs created by the expansion of a used car retailer.

Imperial Car Supermarket announced earlier this month that it was to create more than 100 jobs with the opening of a new 400 car retail site and service centre in Southampton later in the year as well as a preparation centre in Eastleigh.

This would double its staff numbers.

A recruitment day has seen nearly 500 applicants across the full range of jobs on offer.

Currently based in Portsmouth, with outlets in Lower Swanwick, Hilsea in Portsmouth, and Fleet, it plans to move its head office to the new Southampton site.

The new retail site, on the former Autoplanet site in Second Avenue, Millbrook, will following a £600,000 refurbishment be ready to open in October or November, employing around 40 staff.

The company plans to convert the former Southampton Saab site next door into its new head office and service centre, where all vehicles can get MoTs and health checks.

Thirty staff are expected to work here when it opens in late August or early September, including service technicians, service advisers, call centre operators, administrators, accounts staff and finance staff.

And up to 30 staff, including technicians, mechanics and the marketing team, should be working at the preparation centre at Barton Park, in Chickenhall Lane, Eastleigh, when it opens at the same time,.

Other positions include sales executives, controllers and managers, a hire purchase supervisor and assistant, MOT testers, workshop supervisors, a bodyshop technician and a human resources manager.

Neil Smith, business development manager, said: “We have been extremely pleased with the number and quality of the applications we have received and are looking forward to the recruitment day and meeting all of the applicants.

“All departments have been reviewing the applications relevant to them ensuring they are fully prepared for the day.”

The recruitment day is at the Novotel, today from 9am to 9pm, by appointment only.

For more details and to apply to attend online, log on to imperialcarsrecruitment.co.uk.

Applications will be accepted until 5pm today.