THE Vale of White Horse — which includes the historic market town of Wantage — has had the biggest rise in unemployment claimants in the country.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics show that the Vale’s Jobseeker’s Allowance claimant count has risen almost 150 per cent between January 2008 and January 2009 — the highest in the country.

However, unemployment remains very low in the district with the percentage of the working population claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance increasing by just 0.9 per cent over the last 12 months.

In January 2008 it was 0.6 per cent, rising to 1.5 per cent in January 2009.

In Wantage, 178 people were claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in 2008. That figure rose to 456 in January 2009.

Nationally, the total number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in 2008 was 795,000. This rose to 1,233,000 in January 2009.

Patrick O’ Leary, of the Dolphin Gallery in Mill Street, said: “I was surprised at the number of claimants in a low unemployment district.

“It is sad. The credit crunch is affecting all types of businesses.”

People aged over 25, who are actively seeking work, are paid £60.50 a week.

Peter Casey, owner of Peter Casey Jewellers, in Market Place, said: “It is really unfortunate for the 400 plus people affected.

“They are not going to be able to spend anything, other than on basic essentials.”

Jim Hetherington, chairman of Wantage Chamber of Commerce, said that historically the town had had a good employment record.

He said: ”If there is going to be an increase in the number of jobless across the board, we, here in Wantage, are going to feel it the most.

“Starting off from a low figure means that any significant increase will affect us more.”

Bill Atkinson, MD of developer Bushbuy, the company behind Wantage's Limborough Road development, said: “I was surprised to see the Vale at the top of the list.

“It’s not what I would have expected.

“It is probably because a large percentage of people live here but work in larger areas like Swindon, Oxford and Newbury, which have been hard hit by the credit crunch.”

Local people mostly affected by cut-backs have been those in the engineering and manufacturing industries.

At the end of last year vehicle components supplier Sonas Automotive, East Challow, went into administration, leaving 50 staff redundant.

In January, 40 from a workforce of 300 at engineering firm Macdermid Autotype, in Grove Road, were made redundant.

The company, which specialises in a pioneering coating technology for mobile telephones blamed the cuts on a downturn in the consumer electronics industry in the Far East. Betting firm Stan James closed its call centre at Grove Technology Park to move to Gibraltar. Seventy-four jobs went with the closure, but some staff will relocate.

Wendy Watson, of Wantage’s Independent Advice Centre, said: “People in Wantage, Grove and the surrounding areas don’t have a job centre.

“We can help with advice, support and making sure people are claiming what they entitled to. This is a really hard time for them.”