Long-term unemployment figures have more than doubled in Devon over the last five years.

According to official statistics, the number of jobless people claiming benefits for more than a year rose by 1,080 between 2007 and 2011.

Figures show that 2,675 people were claiming benefits for more than a year in 2011, compared to 1,595 people in 2007.

The total number of people out of work and claiming benefits in Devon, Torbay and Plymouth reached 21,843 in January, a rise of 2,100 over the past year according to Government statistics.

Torbay’s unemployment rate was revealed as the highest in the region at 4.9%. Plymouth’s unemployment rate stands at 4%, while the unemployment rate for Devon is 2.4%. The UK average is 4.1%.

The latest figures were released as it was announced unemployment in the UK rose by 48,000 to 2.67 million in the last quarter . The number of people in the UK claiming Jobseekers' Allowance rose to 1.6m.