Unemployment has plunged to a 25-year low, according to figures published today.

A total of 963,700 people were claiming benefit last month, down by 12,000 on May.

In the three months to May, unemployment fell by 82,000 to 1.45 million.

Meanwhile, average earnings increased by 4.5% in the year to May, down by 0.7% from April, said the Office for National Statistics.

Updated: 11.15 Wednesday, July 18