GOVERNMENT plans to force the unemployed to do unpaid manual work are flawed because there aren’t enough jobs, say benefit claimants.

But a business leader backed the proposals by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, set to be unveiled this week.

Mr Duncan Smith wants to force people on Jobseekers’ Allowance (JSA) to do four-week programmes of compulsory community work like litter-picking and gardening.

However, residents in Blackburn’s Wensley Fold area, which has one of the highest rates of benefit claimants in the country, and those at Burnley Job Centre today had differing views on the radical plans.

JSA claimant Stephen Veale, 38, of Lawrence Street, said: “If they rang me up tomorrow and told me to start doing voluntary work, I would sign myself off the benefits.

“The thing is that these days they almost expect you to do a full-time job while claiming JSA.”

Pensioner Walter Nightingale, 71, of Arthur Way, said: “It is okay threatening to cut benefits, but if there are no jobs to go to, what do they do then?”

Mohammed Fareed, 41, of Lawrence Street, who claims carers’ allowance, said: “They should have to do it and then at least they are putting something back into the community.”

At Burnley Job Centre, Daniel Heap, 31, of Rawson Street, said “I don't think it is fair. I have tried to work but I struggle at times.

"I find it difficult communicating with people and being around people."

Derrick Brown, 52, of Carlton Street, Brierfield, said: “It is just the way to improve their paperwork and statistics.

"There is nothing in it for people who are trying hard to get back into work.

"There are hardly any jobs out there so this isn't going to help anyone.”

Claire Pye, 18, from Burnley Wood she said: “ I don't think it is a good idea.

"A lot of people are looking hard for jobs, but there is very little about and do they expect us to do volunteer work forever.

I think the idea is a bit pointless.”

But East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce chief executive Mike Damms said he was broadly supportive of the Government proposals.

He said: “Providing this is managed properly I think there are benefits to getting people used to working again."