Unemployment in East Anglia increased by 1,000 in the three months to October, official figures have revealed.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that a total of 155,000 people were unemployed in the region between August and October.

The region's unemployment rate was 5.0pc and saw a rise of 0.7pc during the period. The highest increase in the number of unemployed in England was the South East which recorded a 3,000 rise in the amount of people without a job.

The Government was given some pre-Christmas cheer on the jobs front when new UK figures showed another fall in unemployment and a record number of people in work.

But a cut of 63,000 in the jobless total to 1.96 million between August and October was the smallest quarterly fall for a year.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that 30.8 million people were in work, the highest since records began in 1971, and 588,000 up on a year ago.

The number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance was down by 26,900 in November to 900,100 - the 25th consecutive monthly fall.

Pay, including bonuses, increased by 1.4pc in the year to October, up by 0.4pc on the previous month, and higher than the current rate of CPI inflation.

Average pay is now £483 a week before tax and other deductions, an increase of 55.3pc compared with the year 2000.

Other data showed that public sector employment has fallen by 7,000 to 5.4 million, the lowest level since records began in 1999.

The UK's unemployment rate is now 6pc, down by 0.2pc on the previous quarter and by 1.4pc over the past year.

Private sector employment is 890,000 higher than a year ago and now stands at more than 25 million.

Long-term unemployment has fallen, with those out of work over a year down by 191,000 to 684,000.

The jobless rate for 16 to 24-year-olds has remained at 16pc, while the proportion of self-employed workers has fallen slightly to 14.7pc of total employment.

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said: 'These remarkable figures show that our long-term economic plan to create a better more prosperous future for Britain is working. Behind them are countless stories of individual hard work and determination, with more people than ever before feeling financially secure.

'What we can see at the end of 2014 is that our welfare reforms are ensuring that people have the skills and opportunities to move into work. Whether that's work experience for young people to get their foot on the career ladder, the benefit cap encouraging people to get a job, or the Work Programme which is helping more people than any previous jobs scheme.

'These figures show that our long-term economic plan to create a better, more prosperous future for Britain is working - with thousands of people feeling more secure over the Christmas period with a regular wage.'