LONG-term employment nationwide has hit an all time high and East Lancashire is following the trend, latest statistics can reveal.

The Minister for Work, Nick Brown, announced that 28.55 million people nationwide were in work.

And there was a 20 per cent fall in long-term unemployed last year, according to the Department for Work and Pensions.

The number of people claiming jobseekers' allowance fell between July 2001 and July 2002 in Blackburn with Darwen by 185 to a total of 2,032.

In Burnley, unemployment is down for the same period by 35 -- a total of 917. And in Nelson and Colne, the number of claimants is 894, down 40 on last year.

For the Ribble Valley, statistics show that 159 people are currently claiming benefits compared to 197 people last year.

Mr Brown said: "These statistics show that there are now more than 1.6 million more people in work since 1997 and this is down to our labour-market policies, such as the new deal and the creation of Jobcentre Plus.

"This is despite a year of global economic uncertainties."