A SUMMIT meeting is being organised between South Devon's three councils to see how they can combine forces in the fight for new jobs.

Torbay mayor Gordon Oliver said the meeting had been organised between the three councils early next month.

Torbay Council has established an employment task force to look at job creation.

Mayor Oliver said he and officers had since met their counterparts at Teignbridge and South Hams to put together an agenda for the meeting.

The three MPs will also be invited and representatives from the employment service and professional advisers.

"I think it will be one of the most major meetings we will see to try to overcome the problem of unemployment in Torbay," he told the full council meeting.

He also announced that a contractor should be appointed for Kingskerswell bypass next month. The construction could create 3,500 jobs.

Torbay Development Agency is drawing up a list of potential employment sites.

Cllr Darren Cowell, who had asked a question on the steps being taken to combat unemployment, said he was disappointed at the slow pace of progress.