THE number of people out of work and claiming benefits in the borough is on the rise.

The latest Labour Market Statistics released by the ONS show the borough bucking the national trend of unemployment figures falling.

From December 2015 to December 2016 the number of people in the Leigh constituency claiming benefits rose by 90, from 1,545 to 1,635.

There was a similar increase in the Wigan constituency, from 1,765 to 1,865.

In the borough as a whole the benefit claimant count increased by 225 to 5,345.

But there was a fall of 50 people claiming benefits between November and December.