MORE than 4,000 people applied for Universal Credit in Swindon in the space of a month.

Between March 12 and April 9, 4,159 people applied for benefits in the town, bringing the total to 16,276 claimaints.

Jobcentre manager Julie Marshall said: "This is purely because of the current climate with a lot of people being furloughed.

"Our main aim is to pay everyone that needs to be paid and we have succeeded at doing that. Any interactions with the public are now digital. We have an employer adviser team supporting work coaches and signposting new vacancies.

"Some employers are beginning to slowly start up again as the lockdown relaxes slightly.

"A lot of vacancies are trickling through - there's quite a high demand for delivery drivers and cleaners."

Other vacancies include roles at Office Angels and Page Personnel as well as drivers for Mainline Recruitment, highly-skilled technology and engineering jobs at Outsource UK and People Network, and Pertemps' waste operations, contact centre and healthcare assistants roles.

The Jobcentre has launced a new website to provide advice and support to jobseekers at jobhelp.dwp.gov.uk and findajob.dwp.gov.uk