More than double the number of people in Powys were claiming unemployment benefits last month than a year previously, figures reveal.

Office for National Statistics data shows 3,355 people were claiming out-of-work benefits as of mid-February, up from 3,240 in January.

It was also more than double the 1,420 claimants recorded a year previously.

It means 4.5% of Powys's working-age population sought support in February – up from 1.9% 12 months earlier.

The figures include those aged 16 to 64 on Jobseeker’s Allowance and some Universal Credit claimants, who are unemployed and seeking work or employed but with low earnings.

Those on benefits last month were among roughly 113,675 across Wales.

National figures, which are adjusted to account for seasonal changes, show around 2.7 million people across the UK were seeking help in February – up from 2.6 million in January, and the highest number since comparable records began in 2008.

The ONS cautioned that changes to Universal Credit in response to the virus mean more people can get the benefits while still being employed, which could affect the figures.

It also said a small number of people who can claim both JSA and UC could be counted twice.

The Centre for Cities said the furlough scheme has helped prevent even sharper rises in the number of claimants.

Elena Magrini, senior analyst at the think tank, added: “It is already clear that the labour market today is in a much worse position than it was a year ago.

"The full extent of the damage will now depend on how quickly we will be able to exit this health crisis and on the timing of the withdrawal of the Government’s support for businesses and workers."