COUNCIL tax is to be frozen by Colchester Council next year following an administration U-turn.

Earlier this month, the coalition running the authority revealed it intended to increase its precept of the council tax bill by 1.95 per cent.

The average Band D taxpayer would have paid an extra £3.42 a year - about 7p a week.

But following a rethink, the Lib Dem group, the largest group running the administration has proposed a freeze at £175.23 for a Band D ratepayer.

The move was announced by council leader Anne Turrell at a finance & audit scrutiny panel meeting tonight.

She said: "We have been able to freeze council tax and have managed to find e money to keep council tax at a zero percent rise and the council is now eligible for £109,000 grant money from central Government."

FOR THE FULL STORY SEE WEDNESDAY'S GAZETTE.