HAZEL Blears changed spark plugs and oil filters when she visited a project to train the unemployed.

The Salford MP spent a morning with the city's First Step charity, where the long-term jobless help service customers' cars.

Sixty trainees work with mechanics to gain qualifications in car maintenance and health and safety on the Oakwood Trading Estate.

The First Step trust runs SMaRT (Socially Minded and Responsible Trading), recycling abandoned cars.

The workers strip down old cars to improve their mechanical knowledge and sell reusable parts. If a car can be made roadworthy, the charity will carry out repairs and then sell it, re-investing profits into training.

During her visit, Hazel put on overalls and helped put a vehicle through a full service. She said: "First Step is an impressive scheme providing a brighter future for unemployed people. The trainees get a real chance to learn new skills. I really enjoyed my time with them."

Stuart Owen, of First Step, said: "Hazel was happy to get her hands mucky. If she ever felt like a change of career we'd be delighted to have her back."