Over half of local authority accounts have missed their audit deadline this year due to continuing pressure on staff time from lockdowns.

Figures compiled by PSAA, the organisation responsible for appointing auditors to 478 local bodies, reveal that 55% (265) of audit opinions were not issued by 30 November. Although ministers extended this year's deadline the figures are still worse than 2018/19 audits when 43% of opinions (210 out of 486) were delayed beyond the then target timetable of 31 July.