THE number of people claiming Job Seekers’ Allowance in a Hampshire town has fallen by 20 per cent in just four months.

Statistics released by the Department for Work and Pensions showed claimants had dropped dramatically in the Eastleigh area between February and June.

Unemployment among those aged between 18 and 24 is down by more than a quarter in the same period.

Job Seekers Allowance claimants were down 16.5 per cent in Southampton Itchen and 14 per cent in Southampton Test, with youth unemployment down 22.7 per cent and 22.5 per cent respectively.

Eastleigh MP Mike Thornton, pictured, said: “Liberal Democrats in Government are rebalancing the economy to make our society fairer, ending our dangerous over-reliance on financial speculators in London and giving people and businesses in the Southampton and Eastleigh area a fair share.

“This news is a great sign that this approach is working, with recent local job and investment boosts showing that there is a clear pathway to economic recovery.

“However, we can’t be complacent – we need to help drive this recovery for a stronger local economy, and a fairer society.”