BASINGSTOKE MP Maria Miller has welcomed new figures which show that unemployment has dropped.

New figures released have shown that unemployment in the town has fallen by nine people in August, which adds up to a drop of 245 people compared with the same period last year.

Mrs Miller said: “Basingstoke has one of the lowest levels of unemployment in the country.

“This is because we have a forward thinking local council investing in attracting new business to our town, a skilled local workforce and a strong economy that is encouraging more inward investment.”