The Welsh local government minister has written to all local authority leaders, warning they should prepare for cuts of up to 4.5% next year.

In a letter sent out this week, Lesley Griffiths told councils to prepare themselves for cuts between 1.5% and 4.5%.

A Welsh Government spokeswoman said Ms Griffiths had ‘encouraged councils to plan for challenging settlements for 2015/16 and beyond, and to consider a range of scenarios with reductions in the general support from the Welsh Government of between 1.5% and 4.5% for 2015-16'.