The Local Government Association (LGA) has insisted its members have been left with 'no choice' but to increase council tax after a pressure group found rates have risen by 57% over the past 20 years.

Research by The Taxpayers' Alliance (TPA) found that only six councils cut council tax in 2017/18, with 17 out of 354 local authorities freezing rates.

But the LGA argued the rises were necessary because local government in England faces a £5.8bn funding gap by 2020.

Chair of the LGA's resources board, Cllr Claire Kober, said: 'Councils do all they can to keep council tax as low as possible, but faced with unprecedented funding cuts are increasingly being left with no choice but to increase it to help fund vital services.

'Since 2010, council tax bills have risen less than the rate of inflation and other key household bills, such as rent and utilities.'

Chief executive at the TPA, John O'Connell, said: ‘Councils have been raising tax year in, year out for decades, but continue to demand even more.

‘Councils should look to reduce spending before hitting taxpayers with yet another round of painful tax hikes.'

According to the research, residents in Chiltern pay on average the most council tax per dwelling at £1,905.95 while residents in Wandsworth pay on average the least council tax at £644.50.