Nearly 12,000 people in North Shropshire were placed on furlough leave as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, new figures have revealed.

The Government has today published a breakdown of the number of people in each county and parliamentary constituency to have been placed on leave with Government support during the Covid-19 outbreak.

And the data shows that 11,800 people in the North Shropshire constituency area have been furloughed.

Across Shropshire Council's area a total of 35,000 people have been furloughed. Figures from Shropshire Council show that about 155,000 residents of the county are in work – meaning more than a fifth of the county's employees stopped working during the Covid-19 lockdown. Another 21,200 people in Telford and Wrekin were also placed on leave as companies shut their doors as the pandemic spread.

Throughout England, an extraordinary 6.4 million people were furloughed, with another 316,000 affected in Wales.

Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: “The UK Government is doing everything we can to, protect jobs and businesses in Wales and across the UK during the crisis.

“Our unprecedented job retention and self-employment support schemes have supported the livelihoods of millions and will help ensure our recovery is as swift and possible.”