Five times more people in need in Elche

THE number of people in need registered with Elche’s Social Services has increased by 251 per cent in the past five years.

While in 2006 there were 1,492 cases, this number reached 5,244 last year, according to town hall data.

The biggest rise in cases was when the number of people in need rose from 2,040 in 2008 to 3,675 in 2009, an 80 per cent rise.

The increase to 4,608 in 2010 was 25.38 per cent more, and to 2011 was even less at 13.80 per cent more to 5,244.