THE CO-OWNER of one of Craven's leading restaurants has explained why he became so frustrated at trying unsuccessfully to find the right applicant for a job that he posted a spoof advert on an online employment website.

Pascal Watkins, of the award-winning Angel Inn at Hetton, posted a job description on the Indeed website.

It read: "Moron wanted for no particular reason. Very easy life offered, doing nothing. This role is ideal for anybody wishing to fulfil their obligation of applying for loads of jobs per week irrespective of their suitability in order to fulfil their Jobseekers Allowance obligations. Free meals and free transport offered. No experience necessary. Job Type: Full-time. Salary: £20,000/year."

Mr Watkins said: "It’s hard enough for most businesses in the hospitality trade to find staff these days, especially if the business is in a slightly rural or remote area.

"But to make things worse, there seems to be a whole host of people out there that just waste everybody’s time.

"I was so fed up of people applying for the job of bar supervisor for £18,000, and then when I contacted them, they didn't even know where the Angel was, or they had no relevant experience, or they were from areas too far to commute without a car. When I phoned them up they didn't have their own transport, and some hadn't even passed their test.

"I had other very suitable candidates that never got back to me. I'd call, leave messages, e-mail… nothing. It can be quite depressing.

"In the end I thought I'd do an experiment because I was curious whether some people were applying for this role with absolutely no intention of taking it seriously, with a suspicion they were in fact simply fulfilling their obligation to apply for a number of jobs per week to be eligible for Jobseekers' Allowance."

Mr Watkins said he was "staggered" to get some replies, with 16 people applying for the job in 24 hours. Most realised it was a joke post, but a few apparently did not.

"Five people actually wrote a covering letter," Mr Watkins said. And while the website post was a joke, there was a serious point to be made.

He added: "We have a pointless system for jobseekers, which is completely open to abuse, allowing them to waste genuine businesses' time and, at the same time, contribute nothing to society whilst they are claiming benefits.

"I know I have been political by doing this, and I know it might have been unwise, but sometimes I think we have to stick our heads up above the parapet and be counted."

But the Angel's genuine job search has ended happily.

Mr Watkins said: "After six weeks of frustration, we have hired a fabulous candidate!"