Hundreds of young people in West Cumbria are claiming out-of-work benefits, official figures have revealed.

In July this year, 350 people in Allerdale aged 16 to 24 were claiming benefits.

A total of 245 people in the borough aged 20 to 24 - five per cent of those in that age group - were in receipt of the payments. They formed the highest proportion of claimants of any working-age group.

In the 16 to 19 category, 2.2 per cent of people were claiming.

The figures were highlighted as Allerdale councillors began an inquiry into youth unemployment in the borough.

A scrutiny sub committee will examine the numbers of young people not in education, employment or training.

They aim to identify the barriers stopping young people progressing in the world of work and consider whether changes can be made to help them.

Denise Rollo, senior development worker at the council, told the committee that almost a third of people claiming unemployment benefits were under 25.

Joel Rasbash, strategic policy and scrutiny advisor for Cumbria County Council, said youth unemployment figures were falling, with under-25s accounting for 3.7 per cent of claimants in Allerdale in July compared with 4.1 per cent in the same month last year.

Despite that, he said, 4.13 per cent of Allerdale's 16 to 18-year-olds were not in education, employment or training between January and March this year.

He added that figures showed just over 95 per cent of youngsters were learning or working during their first year after leaving year 11, dropping to less than 89 per cent in the second year.

Michael Priestley, area manager for Inspira, said the organisation - which helps people access employment and training - worked with around 110 young people in an average month last year.

He said the number of youngsters claiming benefits and seeking help always spiked in July and August, as the latest group of school leavers entered the equation. The serious issue was the number of people aged 19 and above finding themselves without work or a route towards work.

Mr Priestley added: "We're pretty good at getting people to progress from school into some sort of learning at 16. The issues begin to arise for us at 17 if that education looks like it isn't working out."

Issues affecting young people, he said, included reductions in the amount of careers advice and work experience now available through schools, following changes by the Government in 2010.

Andrea Hines, senior development manager at Allerdale, said there would be an influx of construction jobs in the area in the coming years, with the development of both a new water pipeline from Thirlmere and nuclear new build at Moorside.

She added: "We need to get the education providers geared up now to provide the courses that are required."

The sub-committee will investigate the issue over the next six months.

It will work with organisations including schools, colleges, charities and the Department for Work and Pensions. 

Councillors are keen to hear from employers about their experiences, training programmes they run and any challenges they face in recruiting young workers.