The number of people claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance in East Lancashire has risen 289 over the last month.

The total on JSA in the area in September stood at 13,351, the Office for National Statistics figures released today show.

It follows on from another steep rise of 426 in August.

Nationally, the unemployment figures have reached a 17-year high, hitting 2.57 million.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "These are terrible figures.

"The Government's austerity measures have turned unemployment into a full-blown crisis, with job losses not seen since the darkest days of the recession."

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "These are very disappointing figures that have been announced today and every job that is lost is a tragedy for that person and for their family.

"That is why the Government is going to do everything it can to get people into work."