Unemployment continues to remain low in Swindon despite a slight increase on last year.

And staff at Swindon Job Centre say there are still plenty of employers looking to take people on in the town.

The figures for the last month show that 645 people in town between the age of 18 and 24 are claiming Universal Credit. That's 30 more than the previous month, and 40 more than the same month last year, a seven per cent increase. But it's 475 claimants fewer than five years ago (a 42 per cent drop) and nearly half the number of claiming in 20110, when 620 more people were claiming benefits for being out of work.

Among the general adult population above the age of 24, 3285 people claimed the benefit last month. That's 43 (15 per cent) more than for the same month last year but a 19 per cent drop- 750 people- since 2013 and a 28 per cent decrease - 1262 claimants - since 2010.

Julie Marshall is a team leader at the job centre in Spring Gardens House, Princes Street.

She said: "The economy in the area remains pretty buoyant, and there are some sectors of work which are particularly looking for people.

"Construction, especially house building remains strong and so does logistics - warehouses and distribution. There's a new warehouse for B&Q being constructed in North Swindon at the moment and while there have been job losses in the high street, but we are seeing retailers take more people on for their online operations."

The Job Centre held a jobs fair yesterday and Ms Marshall said: "We had 800 people come and 20-odd employers each with more than 20 vacancies, and they all filled their quota, so it was very successful."