THOUSANDS of people swamped ScottishPower with applications after the Glasgow energy giant advertised dozens of vacancies.

The jobs rush was triggered by a multi-billion pound investment programme and the need to replace engineers who are due to retire from the industry by 2028.

The drive for a new generation workforce has already seen ScottishPower fill 500 vacancies as part of an ongoing recruitment drive.

And today the dual fuel power supplier announced it has taken on another 162 new recruits - the highest trainee recruitment number in more than five years.

But job applications were lodged by almost 4000 people.

More than 1100 applied for graduate posts with another 1100 wanting to be hired as craft apprentices.

The applicants also include 254 school leavers hoping to be sent to college to learn the skills needed to be considered for an apprenticeship.

Human Resources director Sheila Duncan was overwhelmed.

The flood of applications came as work is about to begin on a new multi-million pound ScottishPower HQ on the old Strathclyde Regional Council site in the centre of Glasgow.

Ms Duncan said: "As we progress our plans to develop our new headquarters in Glasgow, it is fantastic to be recruiting record numbers of students, apprentices and graduates.

"Glasgow will play a major role in the development of our new recruits as most will go through training in the city and many will be employed directly in Glasgow for the long-term."

gordon.thomson@ eveningtimes.co.uk