A forklift truck firm set up in Bury St Edmunds just under four months ago could soon be helping the young unemployed get back into work.

Eastern ForkLift Trucks opened in Northern Way at the beginning of October but has quickly established itself selling, hiring and servicing forklifts and mechanical handling equipment.

It also boasts a 3,000 sqft training yard which it now hopes can be out to use helping young unemployed people gain qualifications to work in warehouses.

“We are hoping to secure a deal with the Job Centre which would see them send unemployed youngsters to have training with us.

“It will give them the opportunity to have trainingon forklift trucks and warehouse equipment which in turn should boost their employment prospects,” said managing director Paul Brierley.

He has worked in the forklift industry for the past 25 years.

He built up a similar company in Huntingdon which he ran for 11 years before selling it last year to a large Korean manufacturer.

Now Mr Brierley and business partner Mark Coltman, the company’s service director, have opened Eastern Forklift Trucks in Bury.

“We saw a gap in the market in Bury,” said Mr Brierley.

“People were crying out for a local forklift supplier.

“Businesses here were having to pay for engineers to travel out from Colchester, Ispwich or Thetford. Now then don’t need to.

“We don’t charge travelling or call out fees withing a five mile radius of the depot.

“The take up has been really positive – better than we hoped really.

“We are already supplying most of the business on the estate including Helmsman and RC Treatt.”

The business holds a stock of around 30 forklift trucks at any one time.