The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in Streatham has risen by 10%.

The number of jobseekers’ allowance (JSA) claimants in the Streatham constituency - which includes parts of Brixton, Clapham and Tulse Hill - rose by 403 between August 2010 and August 2011, according to statistics published by the House of Commons.

The number of JSA claimants per job centre vacancy is now 25.7, making it the 18th worst ratio of jobless to jobs of the 632 constituencies across England, Wales and Scotland.

Figures suggest 895 people living in the area have been claiming job seeker’s allowance for more than a year.

Streatham MP Chuka Umunna said: "These latest local unemployment figures make for particularly depressing reading. It is worrying that joblessness is rising so sharply and that so few jobs are being created.

"We should never underestimate the impact on the lives of those affected by unemployment and their families.

"The Government’s austerity programme is hitting families hard, denting businesses’ confidence in the economy and hampering job creation. These figures underline the urgent need to get the economy growing again."

Nationally, the number of people aged 18 or over claiming JSA increased by 20,300 between July and August 2011, to 1.58 million people.