The number of unemployed people in the UK has grown by 23,000 to reach 2.47 million, over the three months to April this year, says the Office for National Statistics.

The rate of unemployment has also increased to 7.9 per cent in the same period, with nearly 7000 jobs being cut in the public sector.

However, unemployment fell in some parts of the country, including Wales and the north-east of England. The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance also fell by 30,900 to 1.48 million in May.

The highest recorded number of people classed as economically inactive, 8.19 million - representing 21.5 per cent of the working-age population - was also marked in the quarter to April.