UNEMPLOYMENT has gone up in Worcestershire, bucking the national trend.

Figures released for April 2002 show that unemployment in Worcestershire rose from 5,518 people in March to 5,652 people in April.

While it is only a rise of 134 people, it flies in the face of national statistics that saw overall unemployment fall by 25,000 in the last quarter.

Herefordshire, however, has seen a drop in unemployment. The number of people claiming unemployment benefit fell, from 1,731 in March, to 1,641 in April.

In Worcester, the number of unemployed rose slightly, by five people. The figure for April was 1,616, compared with 1,611 in March.

Other towns in Worcestershire registered a fall in unemployment.

Evesham's unemployment came down from 377 people in March to 366 in April, while Malvern's figure reduced from 399 to 382.

Kidderminster remained static, with the number of people claiming unemployment benefit in the town staying at 1,257.

Hereford recorded a drop. There were 1,298 people claiming unemployment benefit in April, compared with 1,375 in March. The percentage drop in Hereford's unemployment rate was the biggest in the two counties, at 5.6 per cent.

Leominster also recorded a decrease, with 245 people unemployed in the town in April, compared with 257 in March.