ROSSENDALE Council has said it will not increase council tax this year.

The borough council’s move to freeze its council tax precept comes as Lancashire County Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner announced they would hike theirs by just under two per cent.

The changes mean ‘average’ Band D residents face a £2 per month rise in bills.

The council will cut services to pay for the freeze, including £100,000 from maintenance of parks and cemeteries, letting three maintenance staff go and not replacing a tractor driver when he retires.

Whitworth Town Council has also frozen its precept for residents, meaning no additional increase.