Watford MP Richard Harrington says he is "cautiously optimistic" about the town’s latest unemployment figures which suggest more people have been getting back into work.

A total of 1,770 people claimed Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA) in December, according to figures released yesterday by The Office for National Statistics.

Whilst the number is higher than that of the same month in 2010, when 1,603 people were out of work, it is the third month running that unemployment figures have fallen since 1,862 claimed JSA in September.

The local statistics buck the regional and national trends, where unemployment rose by 0.4 per cent to 3.9 per cent in the East of England and increased by the same amount to 4.9 per cent across the UK.

Temporary positions available over the Christmas period were signalled as a possible reason for the slight rise in employment but Conservative Mr Harrington believes the news is positive.

He said: “I am pleased to see that there has been a reduction in JSA claimants in my constituency. These decreases are small but important.

“The overall number is still far too high and I will continue to work with Watford businesses and employers to create and sustain jobs for people in Watford. I am cautiously optimistic about this continuing fall but recognise that there is still a long way to go.”

Watford’s Central ward displayed the worst employment figures in the town, with 348 people out of work. The second worst ward proved to be Holywell where 210 people claimed JSA.

In Three Rivers, 1,153 people claimed JSA compared with 1,198 in November and 1,064 in December 2010.

A total of 2,303 Dacorum residents were out of work in December, a fall of 56 from November but a rise from the 2,107 who claimed JSA in the same month the previous year.

Hertsmere bucked the national trend by showing a fall in the number of unemployed compared with 2010. A total of 1,508 claimed JSA in December while in the same month in 2010, it was 1,600.