Tesco's distribution centre at Beam Reach will open in June.

Jobseekers have said they aren’t hopeful about getting hired at the new Tesco depot in Dagenham following the news of 900 redundancies in Harlow.

A Tesco spokeswoman said the company was in talks with those in Harlow over whether they would move to the Dagenham depot when it opens in June.

She said: “It is difficult to judge how many would want to transfer.”

But Keith Allan, 55, of Hornchurch, who is applying to the new Dagenham distribution centre, expects most of the positions to be filled by Harlow employees.

He said: “It would be nice to consider local people first for the jobs but I have been in the same situation as the guys in Harlow and if you can move with the job you do. If you can get four in the car and drive down it’s worth it. Even now if my job was 20 miles away and I had to cycle I would do it.”

Lee Corbett, 32, of Chadwell Heath, who has worked on and off for the last year, agreed: “I thought I would definitely be able to get a job but now I probably don’t stand a chance. I don’t think there is going to be as many jobs for local people as previously stated.”

MP Jon Cruddas is meeting with Tesco to discuss how many of the promised jobs at the new distribution centre at Beam Reach will go to local people.

The Dagenham and Rainham MP said: “I am meeting up with [Tesco] to discuss what are the job implications for local people. Throughout my discussions on this project my concerns have been to ensure as many local people as possible find work at the new distribution centre. Times are hard and we need as many job opportunities as we can for local people. I was of the view that this new site was not linked to other closures and redeployments.”