The number of people in the county who are unemployed has risen every month for the past 13 months.

Figures out today show 30,115 are now claiming benefits compared to revised figures for July which saw 29,530 people claiming, a rise of 585.

In June, 680 more people signed on than they did in May this year.

During August, all areas across the county saw an increase in the number of people signing on for Universal Credit or Job Seekers Allowance.

Dartford saw the largest increase between July and August with 85 more people signing on.

According to the Office for National Statistics, a total of 1420 people were claiming benefits in Dartford in August.

In July in the borough, 1,335 people were recorded as claiming the benefits.

Medway saw the second largest rise with 55 more people claiming.

The smallest increase was in Folkestone and Hythe area where just five people making new claims.

Canterbury, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells also saw a small increase of just 10 more people making claims in each areas, compared to the month before.

Across the county there were 370 more people aged between 25 and 49 claiming benefits in August than in July.

A total of 15,675 people in that age bracket claimed in July, but in August that figure rose to 16,045.

Nationally, unemployment is at its lowest level in 45 years - driven by a record low in the percentage of women out of work.

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