Tendring: Concern as unemployment figures rise for the third month in a row

The number of people on the dole queue in December was up by more than 100 to 2,167 – a five per cent rise on November.

Dave Cope, of Jobcentre Plus, said: “We are a little worried about the increase, but we certainly aren’t panicking.

“There are seasonal factors in an area like Tendring. Clacton is historically a little bit more unpredictable, which tends to be the way with seaside towns.

“There’s a fairly transient population as well. The population does tend to turnover, so we get movement in and out of Clacton.”

Almost three per cent of adults in Tendring are out of work, but the figure is still much lower than a year ago.