It was another sign of the tough job market in London, as hundreds turned out for a job fair Tuesday for temporary positions at this year's edition of the Western Fair.

Some arrived two-and-a-half hours before the doors even opened. The work is low-pay and short-term, but hopefuls say they'll take what they can get.

Many are unemployed or under-employed and hoping for some late summer cash to tide them over.

Liz Harwood has been out of a job for two years and really wants the work, but says it’s tough ‘I've never experienced it like this before. I've had two temporary jobs, but they didn't last very long.”

It won’t be long until the fairgrounds are filled with the sights and sounds and carnival atmosphere that make up the Western Fair and officials say they'll need an army of workers to make the magic happen.

Events manager Rob Lumsden says they’re looking to fill “Various different positions from gates and ticket staff to some volunteers to cleaning staff.  Basically a complement of people to help us with our annual fair.”

He says he expects some 500 applicants for between 300 and 350 jobs, all of which pay minimum wage.

But that’s nothing to sneeze at, according to part-time kitchen worker Jeff White, who came with his daughter Sherry Wallis

White’s advice? “Take the first thing that comes up. Don’t pass it up.”

Wallis says it’s been challenging “I’ve had a few jobs, but the few businesses I did get went bankrupt so it wasn't very good because it was only like six months.”

Fair officials say part-timers and students are accepted - as well as full-timers - but all new hires are asked to work the full ten days.

The fair runs Sept. 6th to the 15th.