JOBLESS totals in East Lancashire could be three times higher than official figures, according to a shock survey.

A report put together by a team of experts from Sheffield's Hallam University claims the real unemployment figure have been hidden by Conservative rule changes.

The official statistics are currently made up from the number of people claiming unemployment benefits.

The figure for East Lancashire stands at just over 4,000, around six per cent of the workforce.

But the report, which will be discussed at Lancashire County Council's welfare rights and anti-poverty sub-committee, puts the figures much higher. The report claims unemployment stands at just under 20 per cent in Blackburn and Darwen, 17 per cent in Burnley and 16 per cent in Hyndburn.

The only borough with a figure near the official average for Lancashire is the Ribble Valley with 8.2 per cent.

The report claims people who lose their job and are not entitled to benefits are left out the totals.

The final figure is further disguised because people who take early retirement or on sickness benefit are not counted by the number crunchers.

A review of unemployment figures ordered by the new Labour Government is expected by the end of the year.

County Hall chiefs hope to hold talks with government leaders about the problem and are calling for a review of the way the figures are collected.

They are also looking at new ways of carrying out unemployment surveys across the county.

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