Eight-year low for jobless

THE number of people out of work in Oldham has fallen for the third successive month and now stands at 4,422 - the lowest since July 2008.

The downward trend mirrors the national picture, which shows a fall in unemployment of 133,000 to 2.2 million, the lowest for five years.

In Oldham 2,713 men were out of work in April, a fall of 227, and 1,709 women were registered unemployed, down 71 on the previous month.

The total is an impressive 3,565 fewer than the same period last year.