KEIGHLEY'S jobless total has fallen again.

Last month, 1,037 people in the parliamentary constituency – which includes Ilkley – claimed unemployment benefits, nine fewer than in August.

The figure is down by 65 on a year ago.

And the latest statistics show that 240 of last month's claimants were in the 18-24 age bracket, a drop of 15 on September last year.

Across the Bradford district, the jobless total rose by five to 9,375.

The UK-wide unemployment rate for the three months to August remained at 4.9 per cent.

Keighley MP Kris Hopkins said: "The independent Office for National Statistics has said that nationally jobs were continuing to be created over the summer with vacancies remaining at high levels, suggesting continuing confidence in the economy.

"This is clearly reflected in the figures for Keighley and Ilkley where the unemployment trend remains downwards, with many local employers also telling me that they plan to recruit more staff.

"With wages growing by an average of 2.3 per cent over the last year and with inflation still low, more and more people and their families are benefitting from being in work, which is good for them and for our economy."