The number of dole claimants in Kent increased by 540 last month in the first signal of the unemployment picture after the Brexit vote, official figures show.

There were 17,895 people on either jobseeker’s allowance or universal credit in July across the county, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

All but two of Kent’s districts showed an increase, cancelling out a fall of 525 a month earlier.

“We have been impacted by three big redundancies in our area,” said Ashford Jobcentre manager Hamera Ahmed.

“BHS, Premier Foods and Turners Fine Foods have all let people go and we knew that would affect July.

“BHS, Premier Foods and Turners Fine Foods have all let people go and we knew that would affect July..." - Hamera Ahmed, Jobcentre Plus

“Fortunately we are finding more employers are approaching us and, in the case of BHS, other retailers like M&S are willing to take on their staff.”

The county’s claimant count is contrast with the national picture, where 8,600 people left the dole queue, taking the nation’s total to 763,600.

It had earlier appeared that the figure had risen by 4,500 but the ONS revised the data.

Statistician Richard Clegg said the Brexit vote was not relevant to the timing of the revision.

He said: "We are independent of government and don't care whether the figures help or hinder them."

Nationally, the number of people out of work fell by 52,000 to 1.64 million between April and June, although this was prior to the EU referendum result.

The UK unemployment rate was 4.9%, the lowest since 2005. Average weekly earnings grew by 2.3%.

In Kent, the largest increase in the claimant count was in Medway, where 135 people joined the dole queue, taking its total to 3,450.

The rise cancels out a fall by the exact same number in June and maintains its position as the county’s highest claimant area.

The next largest increase was in Ashford, where another 85 people began claiming unemployment benefits, bringing its total to 1,105.

Significant rises were also seen in Canterbury, up 55 to 1,250, and Dover and Swale, both up 50 to 1,310 and 1,875 respectively.

There was a jump of 45 in Maidstone to 1,170 while Shepway’s claimant count increased 40 to 1,330.

Gravesham was up 30 to 1,285, Tunbridge Wells up 25 to 520, Sevenoaks up 20 to 515 and Dartford up 15 to 750.

There was a marginal decline in Thanet, down 10 to 2,635, although it still has the county’s second highest total.

Tonbridge and Malling was down five to 695.