The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in Barrow dipped slightly last month, figures have revealed – but was still far above that seen at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows 2,075 people were claiming out-of-work benefits as of mid-January, down from 2,080 in December last year.

However, the figure was still much higher than the 1,250 recorded in early March 2020.

The figures mean that 5.1 per cent of Barrow's working-age population sought support in January – up from 3.1 per cent 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.

In South Lakeland figures also dipped slightly – but was well over double that seen at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

ONS data shows 1,870 people were claiming out-of-work benefits as of mid-January, down from 1,875 in December last year, but this was still much higher than the 665 recorded in early March 2020.

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

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.