UNEMPLOYMENT in the Cotswolds has fallen slightly.

Figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that there were 395 people unemployed in June within the Cotswold district area.

This is represents a six per cent decrease from the same month last year, when unemployment was at 420.

When looking at young people aged 18 to 24, there were 70 unemployed, representing a 6.7 per cent decrease from 75 people last year.

Accroding to ONS, the South West had the highest employment rate in the UK at 79.2 per cent on December 2016, and an unchanged unemployment rate of 3.5 per cent.

Richard Ludlow, operations director at Connected Light, commented on employment figures in the South West: “The news that the South West is leading the way across the UK in employment rates is not a surprise to us.

"The South West is at the heart of the constantly growing, low-carbon economy and there is a vibrancy and energy in the region.

“Such is the confidence of our clients in the future, and the advances in high-efficiency, low-carbon technologies including lighting, that we have recently taken on new senior staff to meet their demands.

"The South-West is home to the high calibre, skilled designers and engineers required to drive the future of the low-carbon sector and related industries.”