want figure numbers higher on left of paragraph than right

[Stonebridge]

If I have a figure on the leeft and right of a paragraph, the figure number
inserted using insert caption on the right is higher than that on the left. I
want the number on the left to be higher than on the right.

 

[Stonebridge]

I want the figure number higher in numerical order on the figure on the right
of the page rather than the left of the page. I have come up with a work
round that involves grouping the figure and caption and then putting these
into a single cell table. This works but is not the ideal.