LONDON: Britain's unemployment rate fell to 6.5 percent in the quarter to the end of May, hitting the lowest level for more than five years, official data showed on Wednesday.

The rate for the March-May period compares with 6.6 percent for the three months to the end of April, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a statement.

At 6.5 percent, the rate was at its lowest level since late 2008.

The ONS added that the number of unemployed has meanwhile dropped by 121,000 to 2.12 million people.