DAVID Cameron has praised Worcester's falling youth unemployment rates - and says he will help "in every way" to bring it down further.

The premier mentioned the city in yesterday's Prime Minister's Questions at the commons, saying he was proud of Worcester's record.

Latest data reveals how there are 325 18-24 year-olds in the city on unemployment benefits, a fall of 215 on September last year.

It has dropped by 15 in one month alone, and comes at a time when the number of apprenticeships are rocketing.

Mr Cameron was prompted by Worcester MP Robin Walker to praise the figures.

The PM used it to poke fun at Labour's shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna, who appeared on BBC Hereford and Worcester several weeks back to accidentally pronounce Worcester as "Wichita".

Mr Cameron said: "Our ambition is to eliminate youth unemployment by making it clear it is no longer an option to leave home, claim housing benefit and sign on to Jobseeker’s Allowance when there could be the chance of a job or apprenticeship or some training, and we are certainly committed to helping in every way we can in Worcester.

"I note that those on the Labour front bench, including the shadow business secretary, do not even know where Worcester is - he referred to it in a radio interview as Wichita.

"I think he has been overdoing the country music and needs to get in touch with his inner 'Worcester woman'."

Mr Walker told the chamber in 2009 the number of young unemployed people was "more more than twice the number of apprenticeship starts".

He called upon the Government to "eliminate" the need for any young people to be out of work, saying the situation "has now been turned on its head".

"The latest figures show that there are almost three times as many apprenticeship starts in the city as there are young unemployed," he said.

It is the second time in recent months that the PM has singled out Worcester during PMQs.

He has also praised the city's High Street in the past, saying Worcester's relatively strong retail performance is a good example for the rest of the country.