Defence contractor Lockheed Martin doubles workforce

There has been a big fall in unemployment in the east, which already had the UK's lowest jobless rate.

The total stood at 176,000 in the three months to October - down 35,000 on the previous quarter, a rate of 5.6%.

Defence contractor Lockheed Martin is among the large companies which have been recruiting strongly.

In three years, the workforce at Ampthill in Bedfordshire has doubled to 900, mostly specialist engineers.