Only 40 miles apart but the pay gap between Cambridge and Luton's a growing gulf

A report from the Centre for Cities shows huge pay gap between Luton and Cambridge.

Cambridge and Luton are only around 40 miles apart but when it comes to pay there's a growing gulf between them.

A report from the Centre for Cities think tank says more and more people in Luton are earning minimum wage, while in Cambridge it's well paid jobs which are being created.

The report covers the period 2001 to 2011 and shows that in Luton the percentage of jobs classified as low paid rose by nearly 5% - that's the third highest in the whole country.

Peterborough came 4th, and Northampton 10th. But on the flip side in Cambridge the number of jobs classified as well paid rose by more than 4%.

High pay is defined as more than £14 pounds an hour, low paid is less than £8 pounds an hour or less.

The Chancellor George Osborne was in Corby today looking at examples of export driven success - like the town's Weetabix factory. He says more is being done to raise salaries in places like Luton.

George Osborne at the Weetabix factory in Corby.

Meanwhile, for recruitment consultants in Cambridge it's more about filling highly skilled jobs in areas like bio-medicine and computer technology.

Hays Recruitment in Cambridge.

Luton's decline has happened over many years. No-one is saying there are quick solutions. Little cheer for the increasing numbers struggling to make ends meet on low wages.