THE number of young people between 18 and 24 in Thurrock who are claiming out-of-work benefits in the last three months has surged as the impact of coronavirus has taken its toll in the workplace.

Around 12 per cent of young people in the borough are now claiming universal credit or jobseekers allowance, as opposed to five per cent in March. Around 1,500 young people are not in work.

The rise in Thurrock is among the highest in the country, though less than areas in the north where more than one in six young people are out of work.

The news prompted Chancellor Rishi Sunak to announce a £2 billion "kickstart scheme" to create more jobs for young people - which he says is aimed at preventing an entire generation being "left behind".

The fund will subsidise six-month work placements for people on Universal Credit aged between 16 and 24, who are at risk of long-term unemployment.