Unemployment levels have risen for the eighth consecutive month in North Somerset, according to the latest statistics.

The figure for those unemployed and claiming jobseeker's allowance now exceeds 2,000 people for the first time since February 2000.

In December, claimant levels rose to 2,061, up from 1,879 in November and 1,652 in October.

According to the statistics obtained by Liberal Democrats, the number of unemployed in the district has nearly doubled from 1,068 in December 2007.

Job losses have arisen from the closure of popular stores such as Woolworths and Whittards, as well as five estate agents closing in Worle High Street.

Weston-super-Mare's Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Mike Bell said: "Unemployment in North Somerset remains below the national average, but the dramatic increase towards the end of 2008 points to the serious impact the recession is having here.

"We've seen national chains like Woolworths and Whittards go under and now many smaller firms are facing the squeeze, too.

"A real worry is that the vacancy rate, the number of jobs available at the job centre has fallen by half since November.

"Not only are we seeing more people out of work but the number of new jobs available is tumbling.

"The Government must make the fight against unemployment its top priority.

"Hundreds of families in Weston and North Somerset are being hit because of a recession and credit crisis not of their making.

"Gordon Brown should scrap his pointless VAT cut and use the money instead to invest in jobs to get us out of recession.

"North Somerset Council must take a lead, too.

"Now is not a time for cuts and closures. We need real investment in our community to improve our economy and create jobs."

"Key to that is making sure that more of the Town Hall's £130 million annual spend benefits local firms."

According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of vacancies at job centres in North Somerset fell from 1,185 in November 2008 to 781 in December 2008.