UNEMPLOYMENT fell across Dorset last month, figures published this morning have shown.

Bournemouth had both the highest unemployment rate in the east of Dorset and the largest percentage drop.

There were 2,002 people claiming Jobseekers Allowance in December, around 1.6 per cent in the population. The figure was down 0.8 per cent year-on-year.

In Poole - where 240 staff were laid off from Sunseeker before Christmas - there were 987 claiming the benefit, or 1.1 per cent of the population, down 0.6 per cent year-on-year.

Christchurch, where more than 30 people lost their jobs at the end of December following the collapse of City Link, had 257 people claiming the benefit, a 0.6 per cent fall year-on-year, to one per cent of the population.

The figures for the rest of the county were: East Dorset 257 (0.6 per cent, down 0.4 per cent); North Dorset 236 (0.6 per cent down 0.4 per cent), Purbeck 235 (0.9 per cent, down 0.3 per cent), West Dorset 350 (0.6 per cent, down 0.3 per cent); West Dorset 745 (1.9 per cent, down 0.7 per cent).

In the New Forest, the figure was 814 or 0.8 per cent of the population, down 0.5 per cent.

Nationally, the number of jobseekers fell by 58,000 to 1.91m, its lowest level for more than six years, in the three months to November.

Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: “The drop in unemployment is welcome news. Behind the statistics are stories of people finding self-respect and purpose in life.”

More to follow.