THE number of people out of work in Wirral increased last month, according to official figures released today.

Data from the Office for National Statistics revealed 4,440 claimed unemployment benefits last month, an increase of 145 on those who did in March.

Nationally, the jobless total fell by 53,000 to 1.54 million in the quarter to March, a rate of 4.6%, the lowest since summer 1975.

The number of people on the claimant count rose by 19,400 to 792,800, mainly because of an increase in those on Universal Credit.

The number of people classed as economically inactive fell by 40,000 in the latest quarter to 8.8 million, the lowest for a year.