More than 40% of people living in a district of Greater Manchester are claiming incapacity benefits, it has been revealed.
Falinge, in Rochdale, is home to 1,142 working-age people – and 490 of them are reported to be on incapacity benefit.
Earlier this year, the area was identified as having the highest unemployment in the country, with more than three-quarters on some kind of benefits.
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Paul Rowen, Rochdale Lib Dem MP, told the Daily Mail: “The majority in Falinge are hardworking and decent people who have lost their jobs because of de-industrialisation.”
He added: “The mills have shut down and people are struggling to find jobs.”
