THURROCK’S MP has praised the ‘buoyant’ local economy as figures show unemployment at its lowest since January 2009.

New regional figures sent out by the Office of National Statistics show 7.7 per cent of people living in the borough are unemployed, a fall from the 9.4 per cent out of work in March.

The figures also show the amount of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance in Thurrock has fallen by almost 15 per cent since March.

There were 3,869 claiming unemployment benefit in July compared to 4,529 in March.

Jackie Doyle-Price MP said: “These figures confirm yet again that the economy in Thurrock is buoyant and jobs are being created.

“Of course the closure of Petroplus and now Tilbury Power Station is very bad news for the workers involved, but these figures show that not withstanding the loss of big employers, jobs are being created at a healthy rate in Thurrock.”