BETTER news could be on the horizon for former City Link driver Christopher Jones and his ex-colleagues at Interface Business Park.

Connect Group, a distribution company at Kembrey Park, has invited redundant City Link staff to apply for roles at its subsidiary business, Tuffnells Parcels Express.

Tuffnells, one of City Link’s major competitors, is aiming to recruit some of the 2,586 employees since the company entered administration.

The delivery firm’s nearest depot is at Yate’s Stover Trading Estate near Bristol however, which may prove a stumbling block for some of those in Swindon, said Christopher.

Meanwhile, the 56-year-old has already had several phone calls off the back of the article the Adver ran last week to explain his redundancy.

He will attend interviews at two recruitment agencies in Commercial Road today, to explore the options they have open to him.

“I didn’t really want to move to Bristol. I would prefer to stay in Swindon, if I could,” he said.

“I haven’t got any work yet, but the article certainly hasn’t done any harm.

“They said they had seen the article and wanted to know what I was looking for exactly.

“You’ve got to go and see what they have to say, haven’t you?”

On Saturday, the Whiteman Street resident finally had the internet installed at his and his wife’s address, which forms another of the steps he has had to take in order to find work.

Tuffnells are asking if any ex-drivers are interested in working at any of its depots, to log on to www.tuffnells.co.uk Lloyd Dunn, managing director of Tuffnells, said: “There’s a national shortage of experienced drivers and we know City Link had many excellent staff who served the company well over the years – it is not their fault things went pear-shaped.”

Mr Dunn confirmed Tuffnells is expecting to win additional business as a result of City Link’s troubles, but its first target is to pick up trained staff.

“Many of City Link’s customers will be looking for new delivery partners, and we’ll be offering a good value alternative, but to do that we need lots more good people to add to the ones we already have,” he said.

“We hope to offer some of City Link’s staff a happier New Year.”

Tuffnells has 34 depots nationwide and employs over 700 drivers. Based in Sheffield, it has strong regional links and recently celebrated 100 years of distributing to customers.