The number of people in dole queues across Bradford has risen for the second month.

Official figures from the Office of National Statistics show 15,123 people who could work are now claiming Job Seekers Allowance across the district – up by 480 on last month.

It means 4.7 per cent of those able to work across Bradford are now claiming benefit, compared with 4.2 per cent across Yorkshire and Humber and 3.6 per cent nationally.

Nationally the claimant count rose by 2,300 to 1.47 million, the first increase this year.

Councillor Dave Green said: “We need to analyse where the job losses have occurred and see if we can identify an underlying trend.

“It is clearly the effects of the downturn, and it appears it is being felt unequally across Bradford.”

The figures also show the number of people unemployed in the UK fell by 8,000 to 2.47 million in the three months to July. It means the UK unemployment rate remained at 7.8 per cent.

Employment Minister Chris Grayling said: “While the number of people in employment rose by 286,000 on the quarter, the almost five million people claiming the three main out-of-work benefits has not improved significantly.

“That’s why we are pressing ahead with re-testing everyone claiming incapacity benefits and introducing our new Work Programme.”

The ONS figures also reveal there are 3,283 jobs being advertised on Job Centre Plus boards across Bradford.