Thousands of people have attended a jobs fair today organised by MP Iain Duncan Smith, as protesters gathered outside to voice their opposition to the work and pensions secretary's welfare reforms. 

Mr Duncan Smith arrived early to Chingford Assembly Hall in Station Road, spoke to the 40-plus businesses and public sector employees and then left before the doors opened to the public. 

The fair featured representatives from retail companies including John Lewis and McDonald's, and public sector employers such as the NHS and Waltham Forest council.

Jobseekers have taken part in a series of seminars on advice on CV writing, interview skills and workshops tailored towards apprenticeships and internships. 

However, some JSA claimants told the Guardian they faced losing their benefits if they did not attend today. 

Aspiring footballer Stephan Campbell, 21, from Walthamstow, is looking for retail work. 

He said: "I called Walthamstow Job Centre today to say I was having family issues and was told if I did not come it will affect my benefits and I will get sanctioned." 

District operations manager Fergus Grant, of the Department for Work and Pensions, said: "Today is about trying to support people back into work, create opportunities for people in the borough.”

Issues such as the so-called 'bedroom tax', the introduction of universal credit and stricter rules on benefits claiimants have been met with widespread criticism. 

Class War parliamentary candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green, Marina Pepper, said: "He's running scared and hiding.”

The number of people claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance (JSA) in Waltham Forest as of June was 6,300 and there are currently around 12,000 residents unemployed. 

Mr Duncan Smith returned to the fair after 3pm. 

He said: "This was a great success. We didn’t expect to get such a high turnout and 1,500 people through the door was remarkable.

"I hope that many of these people will now get job interviews and offers as a result of this day.

"I would like to thank all those at Jobcentre Plus and at Waltham Forest Council who helped organise the day and who made it all possible."

For more on this story, see next week's Guardian - out Thursday