Six people were chasing every job available at a new supermarket in Glastonbury.
This week, staff at the Tesco recruitment centre revealed that 1,200 people had applied for the 195 jobs on offer at the store.
With the town's population at 8,784, that's the equivalent of one in seven Glastonians applying for a job at the shop. The new 24 hour store, which is due to open its doors next month is in one of the most deprived areas of Glastonbury.
While the High Street has been given the moniker 'recession proof' due to its healthy occupation rate, the town has the highest estimated percentage unemployment rate in Mendip.
Just over two per cent of the town's working-age residents are unemployed – almost twice the average for Somerset.
Although many of the town's residents voiced disapproval when the supermarket giant announced plans to come to Glastonbury, workers on the site say that before the store even opens it's doors, it has already helped the economy.
"Everyone working here on the site has been staying in hotels, B&Bs and even in campsites in the town," said Russell Womersley, site foreman for Tesco.
"They've been going to places in Glastonbury at night for food, and to drink."
He said that he had been "glamping" in Eden cabins at the Old Oaks Touring Park in Wick during his stay in the town.
Another 65 jobs are expected to be created at the Premier Inn hotel and Brewer's Fayre restaurant being built near by. Joinery company Howdens are hoping to build a 8,000 sq ft trade counter and an additional 7,500 sq ft of units near Screwfix on the Morlands industrial site, but have not yet said how many jobs they expect to be created if they are given the go-ahead.
The Mayor of Glastonbury, Councillor Ian Tucker said the sheer volume of applicants for jobs at the store highlighted the need for development on the old Morlands site.
"It's great to see that end of town looking so busy," he said.
"The amount of people who have applied for the jobs available shows the reason that people in the town have been working so hard to bring the site back into productivity.
"All the work going on has helped to tidy up what was a rather untidy part of Glastonbury, too.
"I know that there were people in town who were opposed in principle to Tesco coming to town, but I think that people will vote with their feet when it comes to where they will shop."
PHOTO SPECIAL - A FIRST LOOK INSIDE THE NEW TESCO
Photos: A first look inside new 24-hour Tesco supermarket in Glastonbury
