LEDBURY'S MP, Bill Wiggin, says he is "delighted" by falling jobless figures in his constituency.

New figures from the Office of National Statistics released this week show the number of unemployed claimants in Mr Wiggin's North Herefordshire constituency in August 2014 was 509 - a fall of 36 from July 2014 and of 473 compared with August 2013.

Mr Wiggin said: “I am delighted unemployment is continuing to fall in North Herefordshire.

“Our steady progress is continuing with a further 36 people finding work in August, leaving 509 more residents who need a job."

He added: "The latest figures show that the Employment rate is now back to pre-recession level of 73% and that nearly 1.33 million more people are working full time since the election.

“In the last 12 months our unemployment rate has almost halved, showing yet again that our county is very much open for business.”