COUNCIL tax arrears in York rose to £6.1m by the end of 2016, according to new figures.

The figure was up by more than £100,000 on 12 months earlier, and the total amount of council tax arrears written off by the local council also rose to £542,740 by December 31, up from £389,940 a year earlier.

However the total number of council tax payers in arrears and subject to liability orders fell slightly to 14,653 from 14,840 on December 31, 2015.

The figures were obtained through a Freedom of Information request by local poverty campaigner Richard Bridge, who claimed they highlighted the “very real difficulties” of many of York’s poorest families – in and out of work – in managing their council tax payments.

But a council spokeswoman said that after factoring in a three per cent rise in council tax, the true level of arrears had not increased.

“Last year alone, our collection rate was above the national average, with 97.5 per cent payments made,” she said.