This represents a rate of 5.2% of the economically active population, the 323rd highest of the 646 UK constituencies.

Local MP, Gordon Prentice, said: "I am hopeful that the economy will soon be out of recession. Unemployment here in the UK is well below comparable developed countries. That is the simple fact."

The Office of National Statistics publish a range of labour market statistics along with the claimant count data. This is available at:

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/lmsuk1109.pdf

ends