The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in Brighton and Hove has fallen, bucking the national trend.

Figures released today show unemployment in the city fell from 4,985 people in May to 4,838 last month.

Across the country the number of people looking for work and those receiving unemployment benefits increased for the first time this year.

Unemployment in the South-East rose from 71,200 to 72,000.

Some 417 fewer people were claiming unemployment benefits in Brighton and Hove in May, compared to the same time last year - the biggest drop in the South-East.

Across the rest of East Sussex it rose by 291 to 5,025 and across West Sussex it increased by 892 to 4,802.

Claimant counts for May stood at 1,139 in Eastbourne, 1,753 in Hastings, 786 in Lewes, 694 in Rother, and 653 in Wealden.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in Adur reached 405, with 889 in Arun, 620 in Chichester, 935 in Crawley, 708 in Horsham, 632 in Mid Sussex and 613 in Worthing.

All of those were increases, with Crawley experiencing a 50 per cent rise.

The Office for National Statistics also reported the number of people in work nationally has reached a record 28,511,000.

That follows an increase of 91,000 in the three months to May.