The number of people that are claiming unemployment benefits in South Lakeland dipped slightly last month, figures have revealed.

But despite the drop, it was still well over double that seen at the start of the coronavirus pandemic last year.

Office for National Statistics (ONS) data has shown that 1,870 people were claiming out-of-work benefits as of mid-January, which was down from 1,875 in December last year.

However, the figure was still much higher than the 665 that was recorded in early March last year.

It means that 3.1 per cent of South Lakeland's working-age population sought support in January – which is up from 1.1 per cent just nine months earlier.

The figures include those aged 16 to 64 on Jobseeker’s Allowance and some Universal Credit claimants, who are unemployed and seeking work or employed but with low earnings.

Those who were on benefits last month were among roughly 311,000 across the North West.

The ONS cautioned that changes to Universal Credit in response to the virus mean more people can get the benefits while still being employed, which could affect the figures.

It also said a small number of people who can claim both JSA and UC could be counted twice.