Fall in people claiming unemployment benefit

It means just 1.3% of working age residents are on the dole compared to the UK average of 3%.

At the same point last year the figure in the Vale was 1.9% (2,117 claimants).

There were 4,382 vacancies across Buckinghamshire in February, more than double the number in February 2013. Programmers and software development professionals were most commonly sought.

Meanwhile, the county’s average house price rose by £1,575 in January to stand at £270,384. House prices rose 3.9% over the year.