For the second successive month unemployment fell while the number of benefit claimants rose, according to statistics released today.

Official figures show unemployment fell by 26,000 in the three months to May reaching 2.45 million but the number of people claiming Jobseekers allowance rose in June by nearly as much. The 24,500 rise in claimants, the biggest increase since March 2010, brings the total of those claiming benefit while seeking work to 1.52 million.