HUNDREDS of hopefuls queued for a fresh start as 100 jobs were created by the expansion of a used car dealership.

Imperial Car Supermar-ket organised the recruitment day ready for when their new 400-car retail site and service centre opens in Southampton later this year.

And it was all hands on deck as senior managers and representatives from every department spent 13 hours interviewing more than 400 jobseekers.

The new retail base employing around 40 people will be opened on the former Autoplanet site in Second Avenue, Millbrook, in October or November this year, following a £600,000 refurbishment.

Another 30 jobs will be created by moving their head office next to the showroom in Millbrook.

A further 30 jobs are available at a new preparation centre at Barton Park in Chickenhall Lane, Eastleigh.

The firm already has sites in Lower Swanwick, Portsmouth and Fleet with a possible 70 extra jobs planned for next year.

Business development manager Neil Smith said: “The reason for doing it this way is to try to give as many people the opportunity as possible.

“There have been a few occasions today when someone has come in for one area of the business and we’ve pushed them towards another department.”

Any jobseekers that were successful during the recruitment day interviews will be invited back for a final interview within seven days.