STOKE-ON-TRENT City Council is leading a massive drive to get tens of thousands of benefits claimants into work or education.

Stoke-on-Trent has the 12th highest benefits dependency rate in England, with about 48,000 people reliant on state hand-outs to make ends meet.

The figure includes 19,000 residents receiving incapacity or disability benefits – the highest rate in the region.

But council and regeneration chiefs believe that the vast majority of benefits claimants are capable of doing paid work and contributing to the city's economic growth.

And with well over £2 billion being invested in the regeneration of Stoke-on-Trent over the next six years, 2008 is seen as a crucial time to help these residents get into the jobs market.

The project has already got under way with the creation of specialised job centres in Blurton, Burslem and Bentilee.

The North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership will work closely with local authorities and partners, such as the Learning and Skills Council, Job Centre Plus, health organisations, colleges and the private sector.