THE number of people joining Tendring’s dole queues has risen.

Latest figures show there were 2,900 people were out of work and claiming benefits last month, up from 2,835 in November.

But there are still 530 more people in employment compared with this time last year.

The figures also show 870 young people aged between 18 and 24 are claiming benefits, up from 855 the previous month.

Overall it means that more than four per cent of Tendring’s working-age population is now on benefits, compared to 2.1 per cent – 2,365 people – in Colchester.