The number of people in Kent claiming unemployment benefits has gone up for the 11th month in a row.

Figures out today show 28,930 were claiming universal credit or job seeker's allowance across the county in June.

That is an increase of 680 on the previous month.

The rise is significantly higher than in May when an extra 460 people in Kent joined the dole queues.

A further breakdown of the data reveals all but one area of Kent saw an increase in unemployment last month.

The largest increase was in Medway where an extra 140 people started claiming jobless benefits bringing the total unemployment rate in the towns to 5,125.

An extra 145 people joined dole queues in Maidstone bringing the total to 1,810, followed by another 105 in Dartford where the total has risen to 1,300.

Only Dover saw a drop in claimants with 50 fewer people getting universal credit or job seeker's allowance. The total now stands at 2,440, although that is still the fourth highest figure in the county.

According to the Office of National Statistics, 16,775 men were claiming in June compared to 12,150 women.

Since July last year around 7,000 more people in the county have started claiming which goes against the national trend.

The rate of unemployment across the country is at 3.8% which is its joint lowest level since 1975.

Wages in the UK have grown at their fastest rate in over a decade - 3.6% in the three months to May.

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