UNEMPLOYMENT fell below two million nationwide for the first time in eight years, but East Lancashire's figures went against the trend with a slight increase. In Blackburn and Darwen, 5,831 people, around nine per cent, were unemployed, while 6,137 people were out of work in Accrington, Hydburn and Rossendale.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.