by Chris Price and Emily Magdij

Dole queues in Kent and Medway shortened again by nearly 700 people over the last month.

Unemployment across the county fell to 36,934 - a fall of 668 from April's figures, according to statistics released by the Office for National Statistics today.

It is the third consecutive month the number of people seeking Jobseekers' Allowance has fallen.

This followed a period of eight consecutive monthly increases in the claimant count, dating back to July last year.

Every district across the county saw falls in their unemployment figure, which is the second month in a row this has happened.

Medway saw their total fall by 102 to 7,308.

In the rest of the county, dole queues shortened by 566 - with Dover the best performer, seeing their claimant count fall by 79 to 2,704.

Canterbury were next in line, with a dip of 69 to 2,455.

Close behind were Dartford and Maidstone, who both saw their jobless totals fall by 68 to 1,938 and 2,481 respectively.

Unemployment dropped in Swale by 63 to 3,537; Tonbridge and Malling by 45 to 1,604; Gravesham by 45 to 2,819; Thanet by 36 to 4,886; Ashford by 32 to 2,027; Sevenoaks by 27 to 1,301; and Tunbridge Wells by 25 to 1,126.

The smallest dip was in Shepway, by nine to 2,768.

Nationally, the number of people out of work fell by 51,000 to 2.61 million in the three months to April.

But the claimant count - the number of people claiming Jobseekers' Allowance - went up by 8,100 in May to 1.6 million.

People at Sheerness Job Centre in Millennium Way, said they were still finding it tough.

Marvin Blackstock, of Queenborough Road, Halfway, has been unemployed since last May.

The 38-year-old said: "I’ve been off work since last May, so a year now. I worked as a lorry driver but lost my licence, so I’m looking for anything that’ll pay enough to help support my family.

"I’ve got a wife and five kids to support.

"The situation’s pretty grim. I’ve not had any interviews at all."

Former printer Luke Hardy, 38, of Marine Parade, Sheerness, is looking for skilled work and has been out of a job for two months.

The father of three said: "The problem is that there are a lot of menial jobs available, but not many skilled jobs. I’m a printer, and the only jobs for printing are up in Scotland.

"It’s like, where do you place yourself to get a job? At the top or the bottom of the ladder?

"A lot of people don’t want to work where I live. People are saying they don’t want to work and just want to suck off the country. I’ve worked all my life; maybe taken a year off all in all.

"As long as you want to work, you’ll find work."

Pregnant Sam Bricknell, of Stanley Avenue, Queenborough, said staff at the Job Centre had been really supportive.

The 29-year-old said: "It’s a bit different for me. I was made redundant from Peacocks in February. I was the manager of the branch in Chatham for 10 years.

"I’m looking for full-time shop work or reception work.

"I’ve had one or two interviews, but most places seem to just take your CV and then you never hear back from them. I think people take a look at the belly and are put off a lot."