BOLTON'S jobless total fell by 87 in April - from 8,707 to 8,620.

There were 76 fewer males out of work - 6,930 compared with 7,006 - and the female figure fell by 11 from l,701 to 1,690.

In the same period the local Jobcentres placed 675 people in work and there were 812 unfilled vacancies.

In the Bolton and Bury travel to work area the total fell by 47 from 14,098 to 14,051.

There were two fewer males out of a job and 27 more females without work.

The North-west unemployment rate of 8.6pc continues to be above the Great Britain average of 7.8pc.

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