An Employment agency which has helped a pottery company recruit foreign workers to overcome a labour shortage believes more Eastern Europeans will soon join the North Staffordshire's ceramics industry. Sentinel Sunday revealed yesterday that Burslem-based collectibles maker Wade has taken on about 20 agency workers from Poland after a local employment campaign failed to attract the number of shop-floor workers needed to fulfil an upturn in orders. Potters' union CATU has criticised Wade for using Polish agency workers, claiming there are "thousands of willing and able pottery workers in Stoke-on-Trent".

But according to Wirral-based Top UK, the agency behind the scheme, Eastern European workers could become an increasingly familiar sight.

Company director Paul Landrum said: "I would say their role in traditional industries like pottery will increase due to the employment situation and also the fact that the British people don't want to work in these sorts of industries so much any more.

"The only options for some potteries is to close the doors or to find workers elsewhere.

"These people aren't taking the jobs of locals and I would urge people in North Staffordshire to knock on Wade's door with their CVs - if you are more suitable for the job, then you deserve it."