ASDA stores in Bolton are looking for more than 100 part-time workers with a difference.

For the stores want to hire staff to work for just 10 weeks a year.

This move is part of a national scheme by the supermarket chain to find a solution to the perennial problem of hiring and then losing valuable temporary staff.

The new "seasonal squad" recruits will be permanent Asda staff but with a contract to work an annual, rather than a weekly, number of hours.

The jobs will cover the busier times of the year, Christmas, Easter and school holidays, and will range from greeters to porters, checkout to warehouse workers.

As well as their seasonal work, these "colleagues" as Asda now call their staff, will be able to take year round advantage of Asda staff benefits, including a discount card, the company share scheme, holiday pay and a performance related bonus.

Locally, the Horwich store will be hiring 50 seasonal squad recruits, Astley Bridge, Bolton are looking for between 45 and 50 and at Farnworth they hope to recruit around 40.

Seasonal squad colleagues will be contracted to work two weeks at Christmas and Easter and six weeks during the school holidays.

As Britain's biggest employer of over 50s the company also hopes that this move will attract even more workers from that age group.

"We recognise that people are looking for flexibility across the working year, not just the working week," said Caroline Massingham, Asda's people director.

"If you are one of the many people who wants to balance long periods of leave with a fulfilling job, the options are limited. Asda's seasonal squad provides an alternative to those looking for truly flexible working packages."