THE number of people signing on the dole in the county has fallen to its lowest figure for more than five years.

Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show there were 4,853 people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in November, a fall of 276 on the previous month.

It was the eighth successive month that the figure has dropped and the lowest total since October 2008.

Nationally, the number of claimants fell by 36,700 to 1.27 million, the 13th consecutive monthly cut.