The Government has said its flagship work scheme is "continually improving" after new figures showed it helped 44,000 people find jobs in the past three months.

Around 300,000 jobseekers have found employment through the Work Programme since it was launched three years ago.

The Department for Work and Pensions said the numbers finding lasting work through the scheme had increased by 132,000 in the past year.

A further 26,000 people have spent at least six months in work, the figures showed.

Employment Minister Esther McVey said: "Long-term unemployment has dropped and the Work Programme is playing its part by making sure around 300,000 jobseekers have got a regular wage and the right skills and opportunities for today's jobs market.

"The vast majority of unemployed people find a job quickly, but we know the minority of claimants who are in danger of becoming long-term unemployed need extra help.

"As part of the Government's long-term economic plan, we introduced the Work Programme to transform how this is done, and we won't hesitate to keep driving up performance to get the best deal for claimants and taxpayers."

Shadow employment minister Stephen Timms said: "These figures show the Work Programme is failing. More people have returned to the job centre than have got a job.

"A Labour government will introduce a compulsory jobs guarantee to ensure nobody stays on benefits for more than two years."