The number of people on unemployment benefits in Kent fell for the second straight month cancelling out a sharp rise in the autumn.

There were 18,185 claimants on either jobseeker’s allowance or universal credit in December, a fall of 105, following a decline of 130 in November, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The dip all but cancels out a jump of 240 across the county back in October.

Medway recorded the largest drop, down 55 to 3,365, with other significant falls in Gravesham (down 40 to 1,250), Tunbridge Wells (down 35 to 525) and Maidstone (down 30 to 1,190).

However, it was a mixed bag across the county, with a rise of 50 in Thanet to 2,750 and a jump of 35 in Dover to 1,400.

Across the South East, unemployment fell by 18,000 in the three months to November to 157,000, while the region’s claimant count fell 700 to 62,200 in December.

Nationally, unemployment fell by 52,000 to 1.6 million, putting the unemployment rate at an 11 year low of 4.8%.

Employment Minister Damian Hinds, said: “We start the new year with another encouraging set of figures.

"There’s good news in the South East where there is a near record number of people in work at 4.5 million and a near record number of women of women in work at 2.11 million.

“We have made real progress creating a strong economy and helping more people into work, and will do what is needed to continue that trajectory as we build a country that works for everyone.”