Unemployment

The number of unemployed people in the UK fell by 3,000 in the three months up to December 2009.

At the end of last year unemployment stood at 2.46 million, according to the National Office of Statistics.

This is the second month in a row the wider measure of unemployment has fallen. But long-term unemployment and the number of people claiming job seeker's allowance have both risen to the highest figures since Labour came to power.

Forty members of staff are to lose their jobs at three of the county's best-loved papers.

They are the the West Briton, the Cornishman and the Cornish Guardian. 

Devon and Cornwall Media believes the move is necessary to keep the company afloat, despite making £7m last year.

Tim Lezard, chair of the South West Trade Union Congress thinks they are looking out for their shareholders, not the readers or journalists.

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