New figures show a triple rise in benefit claims

Elmbridge had the biggest increase with more than 991 signing on compared to the same time last year, with Spelthorne trailing with 925 more and Runnymede with 632 extra claimants.

Darren Lacey, of Bedfont Road, Stanwell, was made redundant as a graphic designer from Thorpe Park last year and is still looking for a job.

The father-of-two said: "I am trying to put myself out there but business just aren't taking any interest in employment. Getting into graphics is very hard at the moment, but I am coming up to my fifth review at the job centre, and after a while they say you should look for something else, which means I might have to get a job in Tesco."

Mr Lacey is a member of Spelthorne Business Forum where he networks with companies, but added said he gets a lot of referrals for full-time and freelance work, but rarely hears anything after that.

He said: "And despite all the business courses I took after school and the jobs with computers, I am still regarded as the cartoonist."

In Spelthorne the amount of women claiming last year stood at 193 and has now increased to 507, while for men the rise has gone from 374 to 985, leaving the total at 1,492 compared to just 567 in 2008.

In Elmbridge the increase in men and women claiming respectively has gone from 332 and 157 to 1,014 and 466, giving a total rise from 489 to 1,480.

Jane Bourgeois, manager at the Walton branch of the Citizens Advice Bureau, has seen an increase in people seeking advice about welfare benefits since the recession.

She said: "The increase is undoubtedly due to the recession. A lot of people living in Elmbridge work in London and many have been hit by the redundancies in the financial sector. House prices are expensive in the borough so many people are seeking advice on housing benefits and how to reduce credit card payments.

"We have also seen an increase in the number of relationship breakdowns and domestic abuse since the recession."

Last July in Runnymede 242 men and 124 women claimed benefits which has now risen to 693 and 305, giving a total increase from 366 to 998.