UNEMPLOYMENT in Wyre Forest has fallen by more than 25 per cent since 1997, according to Government figures.

MP David Lock said the number of people unemployed and claiming benefit in his constituency had fallen from 1,754 to 1,310 since the last General Election in May 1997.

The number of people aged between 18 and 24 claiming benefit for more than six months has also fallen from 151 to 25 in the past three-and-a-half years.

Mr Lock said: "Fewer people in Wyre Forest now claim unemployment benefit than compared with the national average. With the help of the New Deal we have seen 126 young people move off welfare and into work since the election."