Hardened career criminals are dramatically on the rise, it was revealed today.

The number of prolific repeat offenders has increased by almost 50 per cent over the last four years.

And in some parts of the country it has more than doubled.

The figures include the hard core of thugs and yobs who commit thousands of crimes a year — bringing misery to communities up and down the country.

The statistics, uncovered by the Conservatives, show the number of "prolific and priority offenders" has shot up from 10,618 in 2005 to 15,126 this year — a 49 per cent hike.

In North Yorkshire the number has risen from 55 to 135 — up 145 per cent.

And in Greater Manchester the figure has jumped from 737 to 1,500 — a 104 per cent hike.

Shadow Home Office minister David Ruffley said: "The number of hardened criminals committing multiple crimes is on the rise."

But Home Office Minister David Hanson insisted that the Government had been "bearing down hard on criminals who cause the most damage to communities."