There has been an alarming rise in unemployment in Blackburn with Darwen and other areas of East Lancashire last month, particularly among the over 50s.

Data from the Department of Work and Pensions shows a rise in the number of people on the claimant count in East Lancashire – those claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance or Universal Credit while searching for work.

All areas of the region saw a rise in claimants, driven largely in most areas by people over 50 being out of work.

In Blackburn with Darwen, the claimant count rose by 31 per cent on the year, with 6,630 people claiming benefits while looking for a job.

Among the over 50s, the rise was 39 per cent, compared with just five per cent among young people aged 18 to 24.

It was a similar picture in Burnley, where the claimant count rose by 28 per cent on the year, and 31 per cent among over 50s.

Rossendale and the Ribble Valley were less affected, with the claimant count rising in those boroughs by 11 and 14 per cent respectively, with youth unemployment rising faster than among the middle-aged.

Across the North West, the number of people in work stands at 3.57 million, up 6,000 on the quarter but down 30,000 on the year.

While claimant counts have risen in East Lancashire, across the North West the number of people unemployed is down 1,000 on the year and the employment rate is unchanged at 4.3 per cent.

There are 604,000 people registered as in non-working households, whether that be due to childcare, disability, an unwillingness to work or other factors.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: "This is yet more evidence of the dire inheritance we face, with millions of people denied the support they need to get work and get on at work, harming their opportunities and holding back growth.

 “This government will deliver the change the country is crying out for by making work pay, transforming skills, overhauling jobcentres and giving local areas the power they need to drive jobs and growth.”

Dale Hesketh, from the JobCentre in Lancashire, added: “Providing individually tailored support to jobseekers is a springboard to financial independence and a route to building a better life for themselves and their family. 

“Turning this aim into a reality is the role of every locally based JobCentre work coach.

“Underpinning this, our employer partnership teams continue to work with businesses to fill their vacancies, which in turn contributes to growing the economy.”

In Blackburn, the JobCentre is helping clients fill 50 vacancies at Blackburn’s B&M store and has run various events to help people find work.

In Rawtenstall a jobs fair is taking place on September 18, and prior to that are focused weeks to help people apply for roles in health and social care (week commencing August 19) and construction (September 2).

A careers event is also planned in Burnley provisionally for October 4, with an MOT session also planned for August 22.