COLCHESTER Council has agreed to freeze council tax.

The Lib Dem, Labour and independent administration had been considering a 1.95 per cent rise.

The council would have faced Government sanctions for enforcing the rise, but decided to follow most other local authorities and freeze its portion of the bill.

Council leader Anne Turrell said: “We felt it would be unfair to the people of Colchester if they were the odd one out.”

Band D taxpayers had faced a rise of £3.42 a year, just over 6p a week.

The Government has offered to support councils which freeze their precepts, with a grant worth £107,000 for Colchester.

The budget is expected to be voted through at next Wednesday’s full council meeting.