LATEST Jobseeker statistics published by the government today revealed that almost four per cent of people are unemployed in Pendle.

The figures show the number of people out of work and claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in Pendle in February was down to 1,235 from 1,307 the previous month.

The figure represents an unemployment rate of 3.6 per cent with 904 men and 331 women out of work in the borough.

Commenting on the figures, local MP Gordon Prentice said: "The news that 200 workers at Homestyle Contracts in Nelson will be gone by the end of May is tragic.

"These are very difficult times for some areas of manufacturing, especially in textiles.

"We are seeing a growing number of jobs in the service industry and while this is very welcome it is clearly no substitute for a strong manufacturing sector."

Nationally the claimant count has risen and now stands at just over 947,200, at 3.3 per cent.