PRIME Minister David Cameron has described Herefordshire's falling unemployment rate as "very encouraging".

The country's Premier was speaking at the House of Commons during a packed Prime Minister's Questions debate.

He was responding to a question by Hereford and south Herefordshire MP Jesse Norman.

Mr Norman highlighted figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) which show the number of people across the county claiming Jobseeker's Allowance stands at 1,872 - the lowest figure since October 2008.

The Prime Minister described the figures as "very encouraging", and emphasised overall employment has risen by 60,000 in the West Midlands since 2010.

Speaking afterwards Mr Norman said: “It is great news that unemployment is falling, particularly amongst young people.

"With luck the Old Market development (a multi-million pound retail and leisure development in Hereford due to open in April) will bring a welcome jobs boost for the city and the county too."