THE number of jobseekers in Tendring has decreased slightly for the first time in months.

Latest figures show 2,250 people were claiming out-of-work benefits in the district in the past month.

That figure was down from 2,255 in the previous month.

Dave Cope, of Jobcentre Plus, said: “There has been a small increase in jobs.

“We are always happy to see an increase even if it is a small one.

“We hope to see this trend continue into the summer months.

“We have been doing a lot of recruitment work with holiday camps and seasonal employers.

“We hope they will be looking to recruit our local people.

“Tendring has its challenges and recruitment here has not been as great as in other places.”