PEOPLE living in Wychavon are paying the eighth lowest district council tax precept in the country.

The figure was revealed in a CIPFA report which showed Wychavon District Council moving up the chart from last year's position of 12th.

The report, called Council Tax Demands and Precepts Statistics 2008-09, comes after the decision by Wychavon councillors to increase council tax by 2.5 per cent for the eighth year running.

People living in a band D property in Wychavon now pay £103.79 for Wychavon's share of the bill, which is about eight per cent of the total amount.

The lowest was Breckland in Norfolk, where similar residents pay £64.87.

The report also shows Wychavon has the lowest council tax in Worcestershire out of the county's six district councils.

Councillor Bob Banks, member for resources, said: "I am very pleased to see that we are eighth lowest in the country for council tax.

"Yet again this proves that Wychavon offers value for money to residents.

"We continue to provide value for money and achieve our ever ambitious goals."

However, Margaret Rowley, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said the council had previously relied on investment income raised from the sale of council houses in 1994 and was planning to spend £24 million - £4 million more than available - on future projects.

She added: "This year, council tax income has been boosted by increasing car parking charges and money has been saved by introducing the unpopular but cheaper wheelie bin waste collection system.

"Next year the situation will be worse as more of the reserves are spent."