WORKERS in Colchester are earning £60 more per week than they were in 2010, fresh figures show.

An economic report to be published by Colchester Council also shows the average income in the borough last year - £580.40 a week - outstripped the average for the east of England - £574 - for the first time.

The 2017 Great Britain average was £552.70.

However, the rise in inflation since 2010 means the cost of living in 2017 was about 20 per cent higher.

That means despite the 11 per cent increase in the weekly wage, salaries are still not meeting the rising cost of living.

Encouragingly, however, the report also shows an increase in the number of businesses, with 20 more employing between 50 and 249 people compared to 2015 and five more employing more than 250 people in the same period.

The statistics also show a record number of business units are running in the borough. In total, there were 8,265 business premises in Colchester in 2017.

The largest proportion of workers in Colchester are employed in health and social work activities - with about 14,000 people in posts in the sector in 2016 - as well as in the retail and motor repairs, which employed about the same amount in the same year.

About 9,000 people work in the education sector.

Paul Smith, leader of Colchester Council, said: “This is evidence that Colchester is performing particularly well.

“As with many areas, we were hit hard by the global economic downturn and this is the first time the average wage in Colchester has risen above the regional average and I believe shows Colchester is at the front of an economic recovery.”

The senior Liberal Democrat added: “I am particularly pleased with the figures in terms of the businesses.

“There are five more businesses in the borough which are employing more than 250 people than last year, which is great news for jobs.

“But even smaller business [employing between one and 49 people] are on the rise. “We are a growing borough which is creating jobs and getting the best for Colchester.”

Simon Blaxill, chairman of business group Colchester Presents, praised the council for its work in attracting new business to the borough.

He said: “I know this council is working hard to attract new business and the figures back this up.

“It is easy to see the negative things but I believe we all need to work together - local business people and the council - to help Colchester reach its potential and that will continue to see us prosper.”

About 18 per cent of the Colchester population of working age are is classed as economically inactive, which does not mean jobless.