MALVERN is an area of virtually full employment, according to Job Centre manager Martin Rowe.

Figures released this week show the number of people claiming Jobseekers' Allowance in the Malvern area (including Ledbury) fell by 6.5 per cent between April and May, to 1.1 per cent of the total workforce. Only Evesham has a lower unemployment rate in the West Midlands.

"It's excellent news," said Mr Rowe. "We always get an increase in claimant count in January. What we see now is the normal seasonal trend when things start to pick up. I would say we're down to virtually full employment in Malvern, it's comforting for the local people."