The number of unemployed people in Oxfordshire has risen for the fifth month in succession -- bucking the national trend.

As reported in the late edition of yesterday's Oxford Mail, latest figures showed that 3,744 people in the county were claiming benefit in March -- up 60 from February -- but the unemployment rate is still just one per cent.

Nationally, the figure fell by 6,000 to 939,600, a jobless rate of 3.1 per cent -- the lowest figure since 1975.

The national claimant count is now 45,000 lower than a year ago and has fallen for three consecutive months.

Minister for Work Nick Brown said the figures provided further evidence of the UK's "hard-won" stability was withstanding the uncertain international economic climate.