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The North West of England has seen a bigger rise in unemployment than any other region in the UK, new figures suggest.
The Office of National Statistics report that there are 325,000 out of work in the area, an increase of 18,000 or 9.6% in the quarter.
However, the number of people claiming Jobseekers' Allowance in Greater Manchester is in decline, falling by almost 1,000 to 87,235 last month.
Across the UK, overall unemployment figures dropped by 35,000, with employment up 53,000.
Employment Minister Chris Grayling said: “Today’s figures are a step in the right direction but we still have a long way to go.
"We are pushing ahead with our strategy to promote investment and new jobs in the private sector and support people currently without work to take up those jobs.
"I am particularly encouraged that overall employment is now growing despite reductions in the public sector.”
2.65 million are currently out of work in Britain. The number of people claiming Jobseeker's rose for the 17th month in a row in March, though an increase of 3,600 made it the smallest monthly rise since last December.
