A RECRUITMENT consultant has returned to his roots to help find skilled professionals to work on the £1.86 billion Mersey Gateway project.

Widnes-born Lee Fallon, aged 33, has opened an office on Widnes waterfront.

He has moved into the Bridge business centre in Gorsey Lane to act as a hub to help seek specialist staff for the Merseylink consortium.

Mr Fallon, former deputy head boy at SS Peter and Paul Catholic College pupil, grew up in Ditton.

He is managing director of Benson Clarke, the company he founded in 2010 after he gained a degree at Liverpool University.

Mr Fallon said: “It was really exciting for me to open a base in my home town.

“It allows us to properly service our client Merseylink.

“We want to demonstrate our full commitment to do all we can to ensure that appropriately professionally qualified individuals in Halton are targeted for career opportunities on this incredible project wherever possible.”

Benson Clarke is recruiting for roles like civil engineers, quantity surveyors, planners and general foreman.

Other recruitment agencies used by Merseylink are also involved in the specialist job search.

Many staff have already been appointed.

Halton Council leader Cllr Rob Polhill said: “This is one of the biggest civil engineering projects in Europe so I am confident it will attract staff of the highest calibre.

“It is creating tremendous job opportunities for people living in Runcorn and Widnes.”

Richard Walker, project director of Merseylink, said: “At our peak we will be employing more than 500 people to work on the project.

"We have a wide range of opportunities here and we are expecting to see a great deal of interest in working on this iconic bridge from people with experience in the delivery of major roadwork and structure projects."