Council tax bills will rise by less than the rate of inflation in Watford for the fifth year in a row.

Watford Borough's share of the combined Council Tax bill rise by 2.6 per cent, 0.4 per cent below the current rate of inflation. Last year the rise was one per cent.

Mayor Thornhill said: "For each of the last four years, we have had the lowest Council Tax increases in the county."

Andrew Mortimer, leader of the Conservative group at the council, said: "A 2.6 per cent rise is more welcoming than previous rises.

"But one can argue that a lowish percentage rise on a high base rate is higher than a high rise on a low base."

The final cost of Council Tax will not be known until later in the year however, when Hertfordshire County Council and the Police Authority set their budgets.