DOLE queues in Wokingham are at their smallest in four years - and there was another monthly fall in Bracknell Forest.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) last week, revealed there were 1,306 people claiming Jobseekers' Allowance in Wokingham borough last month - the lowest since December 2008 when 1,118 people received it.

In Bracknell Forest, 1,556 people were claiming Jobseekers' Allowance in December, the second consecutive monthly fall. The figure, down nine from November, represents 2% of the working-age population with 971 men and 585 women receiving the benefit.

A breakdown of the figures of 1,556 claimants for Bracknell Forest shows 1,010 of them have been looking for work for less than six months and 330 for more than a year. There were 340 people aged under 24 claiming and 325 aged 50-64.

In Wokingham borough, the number of people claiming Jobseekers' Allowance - 1,306 - was made up of 839 men and 467 women. The total figure was down 85 from November.

In total 870 people have been looking for work less than six months while 260 people have been searching for more than a year. The figures also show 280 people under 24 are claiming the benefit plus another 280 people aged 50-64.

Nationally numbers of claimants fell 12,100 to 1.56m last month, with the official jobless total down 37,000 between September and November to 2.49m.