Thousands of jobs in the construction industry are going unfilled in eastern region, it has been revealed.

On Thursday, Norfolk Construction Training Group and the Construction Industry Training Group (CITG) came together to encourage young people in East Anglia to work in the industry.

The East needs to recruit 124,000 people over the next five years, according to the CITG.

As part of National Construction Week, which starts on Thursday, careers advisers are going to schools in Suffolk and there will be events in Kings Lynn and Luton.

John Farley is promoting construction

The recruitment problem has been highlighted in Norwich where a temporary job centre has been set up to find workers for the redevelopment of the former Nestle chocolate factory.

The factory is being demolished, in the one of region's biggest construction projects, to make way for new homes and shops.

John Farley, of the Norfolk Construction Training Group, said there are many opportunities for work in the building industry.

"It does offer good prospects and not just in the physical side," he said.

"There are other areas to consider like being an architect and opportunities to become involved in the computer side of the industry which is becoming more significant."

Helpine numbers for people interested in jobs are 0845 606 0655 for the National Health Service and 0800 0858 467 for construction industry jobs