The UK unemployment rate has risen again but the rate of increase has slowed, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Unemployment rose 88,000 to 2.47m in the three months to August, while the jobless rate stayed at 7.9%.

The 88,000 increase in the number of people unemployed in the quarter to August is a marked improvement on the 210,000 rise recorded for the three months to July.

"Although unemployment isn't as high today as many feared it would be at the time of the Budget, it remains a serious problem, which is why we must keep increasing support and advice to get people back into jobs," said Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper.