The total number of people out of work increased by 164,000 between the months of June and August, taking the UK total to just under 1.8m.

This rise is the highest in 17 years and has pushed up the unemployment rate from the previous quarter's 5.2% to 5.7%, the highest since March 2000.

Figures from The Office for National Statistics revealed that the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance rose by 31,800 in September to a total of 939,900.