A company helping the long-term unemployed back into the job market has found work for its 1,000th person.

Ellen Mackellar applied for 200 jobs in two years before Pinnacle People at Chippenham helped her to secure a job in her hometown of Corsham.

The 60-year-old became depressed when she was out of work but said she was feeling much better since she started work as a childminder and serving customers at Right Angle Picture Framing on High Street.

She said: “I think people think you retire at 60 but I’ve got another six years to go.

“Pinnacle was very supportive and really helped me, I didn’t feel like I was under pressure to take just anything. I started doing volunteer work at primary schools – that helped me get back into a working environment.

“It’s great to be back out there.”

Pinnacle People opened in Avon Reach four years ago and takes referrals from the Job Centre. It runs workshops in employability skills and helps with job searches and building CVs.

Job coach John Coyer said: “We try to overcome the different barriers to work. It’s such a good thing to do, to see them gain a lot of self-esteem and become more positive about things.”