YOUNG people should be prepared to accept lowly jobs at coffee shops, the Minister for Employment Esther McVey was reported as saying last week — but the comments have found little support in North Cornwall and West Devon.

In an interview with a national newspaper, Mrs McVey said youth need 'reminding they have to start at the bottom', and people who want jobs will have to work hard for it and 'be realistic with their abilities. They will have to take entry-level jobs as they can't walk into their dream career'.

Asked if they should be prepared to take 'entry-level jobs', she told the Daily Mail: "Absolutely. You could be working at Costa. But in a couple of years' time you might say, 'I'd like to manage the area' or might even want to run a hotel in Dubai."

She has also said young people 'need to learn the basics, like turning up on time'.

Online, Mrs McVey's interview has been construed as young people are 'job snobs' and coffee shops, as an example, are bottom-rung jobs on the career ladder, which they do not wish to take up.

But in the tourism-fuelled industry of the Westc Country, some independent town and village coffee shops owners were offended by the remarks.

Kathleen Robinson, owner of the Four Seasons of Camelford, said: "All the time we get youth coming in and asking for jobs, especially during schools holidays and summer.

"We have a barista machine, which is expensive to run with real coffee beans and train people on, so I am offended anyone would think a coffee shop as a lowly job.

"It is okay for these London ministers to be saying such things, but they want to try and live in Cornwall for the winter and find work.

"You get a lot of older people coming in, and there is always somebody they know to talk to visiting — you can't say that for cafés in the city.

"It is a nice meeting place, and they always say how nice and friendly our staff are, so it doesn't matter what age they are."

For the full report, and a round up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.