UNEMPLOYMENT figures in Worcestershire bucked the national trend for February as the number of jobless in Britain fell below the magic million mark for the first time since 1975.

Countywide the number of people without work rose by 108 to 6,827 - a rise of 1.6 per cent from January.

Across the area Kidderminster reported a 5.6 per cent increase with 80 people added to bring the total to 1,498, and in Evesham there was a 3.4 per cent rise to 552 unemployed.

Malvern reported a jobs boost with an extra six people finding work, to take the jobless total to 544.

But Prime Minister Tony Blair said unemployment in Worcester city had fallen by 800 since Labour was elected in 1997 - a drop of 39 per cent.

He said long-term unemployment in Worcester was down by 77 per cent and youth unemployment was down by 84 per cent.

"A significant milestone has been reached with unemployment below the one million mark," said city MP Mike Foster today.

"This compares to three million plus in the mid 1980s. The New Deal has had a major role in this as has the way the economy has been managed by Gordon Brown.

"We'll extend the New Deal programme to actually make full employment a realistic proposition for Great Britain in the 21st Century."

In Hereford unemployment fell by 2.2 per cent to 1,527, mirroring figures in the rest of Herefordshire which showed a 2 per cent drop to 2,000.

"These figures - the best for 25 years - underline the basic economic strength of Britain today," said Mr Blair.

"But this is no time for complacency. We have to step up our effort to create employment opportunities for all by concentrating help on those who find it hardest to find work."