Dole queues across Bradford have increased – bucking the national trend.

And the percentage of people claiming out-of-work benefits remains higher than other parts of West Yorkshire.

Official monthly figures released by the Office of National Statistics show the number of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance across the district stands at 15,263, up from 15,011 the previous month.

It means 4.7 per cent of those able to work across Bradford are now claiming the benefit, compared with 4.1 per cent across Yorkshire and Humber and 3.5 per cent across the UK.

Bradford has the highest percentage of people who are of working age claiming the benefit.

In Kirklees 4.2 per cent claim JSA, 4.1 per cent in Leeds, 4.2 per cent in Kirklees and 4.4 per cent in Calderdale.

Councillor Dave Green, Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration, said: “We are approaching the situation where the Council estimates the effects of the spending review will be about 7,500 job losses here in the next three or four years.

“In addition we have a growing population. Clearly the rise in the claimant count is a concern, especially seen in the context of it being the highest across West Yorkshire.

“Many of the tools we have in our locker to deal with helping people into work have been taken away from us, but as a Council we are committed to working with our private and public sector partners to do whatever we can to create new employment opportunities for people across the district.”