UK unemployment hits 14-year high

Unions and employers in Britain reacted with "alarm" today after unemployment surged to a 14-year high, prompting fresh calls for the UK government help for the growing army of jobless.

The total now stands at 2.47 million following a 210,000 rise in the three months to July, while the numbers claiming jobseeker's allowance rose by 24,400 to 1.61 million in August - the highest since May 1997 and the 18th monthly rise in a row.