Tottenham still has the highest number of unemployed people in London, despite a small drop in benefit claimants.

According the Office of National Statistics, the area still had more people out of work than any other part of the capital, but the numbers are falling.

Tottenham’s unemployment rate stands at 6.8 per cent just above Brent Central at 6.7 per cent.

In October, there were 5,338 people in the area claiming Jobseekers Allowance, a fall of 267 people from the previous month.

Trade unionists have said more still needs to be done to create jobs and attract private sector companies to the area.

Keith Flett, Haringey’s Trade Union Congress secretary, said: “London is a city of great wealth but it remains a city of the haves and have nots, even as an economic recovery gets underway.

“It’s good news that the jobless total in Tottenham is falling but it’s very bad news that it remains the highest in London.

“The trickledown effect of economic recovery doesn’t work.”

He added that the newly opened Sainsbury’s superstore, in Northumberland Park Road, had helped to create jobs, but there are few other signs new employment opportunities in Tottenham – especially ones which pay the London Living Wage.

Tottenham MP David Lammy said: “It is clear that despite the talk of recovery, a number of constituents continue to be locked out of London’s economy.

“While I welcome the fact that the number of JSA claimants in Tottenham has fallen, we must address the fact that unemployment in Tottenham remains the highest in London.

“Clearly, we need to look beyond existing services such as Job Centre Plus and the Work Programme to target unemployment at a local level, especially among young people.”