The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in Norfolk rose to its highest level in 10 months in February.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics today showed 18,104 people in the county were claiming the benefit in February, an increase of 438 from the previous month, which also showed a steep increase on December's figures.

The figure is the highest since April 2010.

In Suffolk the number rose by 247 to 13,290, the highest figure since February 2010, while Cambridgeshire saw an increase of 242 to 8,666.

Every Norfolk district also saw increases in the claimant count except North Norfolk, which remained stable at 1,732.

In Norwich the number rose 172 to 4,375.

The reasons for the increase are likely to be partly seasonal, with sectors such as retail and tourism shedding temporary posts following the December peak.

Public and private sector job losses are also likely to have contributed to the increase.

Separate national data for the three months to January showed a slight increase in unemployment to 2.53 million - the highest level since 1994.

Jobseeker's Allowance claimants by district

Norwich saw the biggest increase in claimants out of the region's districts last month, up 172 to 4,375. In Breckland the number rose 29 to 2,262, with Broadland up 52 at 1,545, Great Yarmouth up 38 to 3,837, King's Lynn and West Norfolk up 51 at 2,783 and South Norfolk up 76 to 1,570.

The only Norfolk district not to see an increase was North Norfolk, which remained static at 1,732.

In Suffolk, Forest Heath saw its claimant count fall by one to 906, with St Edmundsbury and Mid Norfolk both seeing an increase of 32 to 1,563 and 1,122 respectively. Waveney saw a rise of 28 to 3,260.

The number in Fenland in Cambridgeshire rose 74 to 2,066.