UNEMPLOYMENT in Blackburn and Darwen has fallen sharply as the borough’s Jobcentres step up efforts to get claimants back into work.

Across the North West region, the number registered as jobless last month had fallen by 46,000 in last year to 239,000 and those claiming unemployment benefits by 63,000 to 111,900.

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Judith Dowling, Jobcentre manager for Blackburn, Darwen and Clitheroe, said the latest local figures were good news for those seeking work.

She said the number of unemployed adults in the two towns had fallen by 1,193 to 2,979 – 2,226 in Blackburn and 533 in Darwen. There were 178 in Ribble Valley.

The number of 18 to 24-year-olds on Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) in Blackburn with Darwen borough had dropped by 39 per cent from 710 to 445.

In Pendle, the number unemployed claimants in August was 1,186, 605 lower than 12 months ago.

Ms Dowling said: “We are doing a lot of work with young people and will be holding a Job Fair next month for over-55s.”

Pendle Tory MP Andrew Stephenson said: “It’s great to see another fall in unemploy-ment and a record number of vacancies.”