The number of people unemployed in the UK has risen 23,000 to 2.47m during the three months to April, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The number of people out of work for more than a year increased by 85,000 to 772,000, while unemployment among 16 to 24-year-olds rose by 11,000 to 926,000. However, the number of people claiming jobseekers allowance declined in May by 30,900 to 1.48 million.

There are concerns that the government's planned spending cuts - although necessary to combat the record peacetime deficit - could cause unemployment to rise further.