UNEMPLOYMENT fell in Bolton this month, new figures out show.

Overall 5,560 people were registered unemployed, which is two per cent down same time last year and a fall of 28 per cent compared to this time five years ago.

The numbers of young people out of work also fell, with 1,135 people aged 18-24 were claiming benefit ­— a fall of 10 per cent compared to last year.

The region with the highest number of unemployed was Bolton North East, where 2,355 people are jobless, this was followed by Bolton South East with 2,320 people looking for work.

Bolton West had 1,345 people out of work.

Penny Applegate, partnership manager at Jobcentre Plus in Bolton, said: "Universal credit is being rolled out to new claimants and in Bolton it will be on November 7.

"We have been working very hard with our partners to provide support for those who many be struggling. The support will be available in the Job Centre, One Stop Shop and at other places."

She added that much was being done to help people back into work including a successful jobs fair which attracted a range of employers.

Job Centre Plus has also been working closely with big employers in the town including Amazon and running sector work based academies in which claimants are guaranteed an interview.

Northern Powerhouse Minister, Jake Berry MP, said: "Getting more people into employment and boosting education are central to our Northern Powerhouse strategy that is delivering for the people of the North. "Since 2010, we’ve seen 619,000 new apprenticeship starts and 176,000 more children are in good or outstanding schools in the North West. This is great progress, and working closely with local partners I’m determined to go even further and secure the brightest future for local families as we leave the European Union."

Nationally unemployment fell by 47,000 to 1.36 million, giving a jobless rate of four per cent.

Average earnings increased by 2.7 per cent in the year to August, from 2.6 per cent the previous month.