The government appears to have won its battle to keep council tax rises under five per cent until after the election.

A Times survey of 200 town halls reveals that local authorities are set to put their rates up by an average of 4.4 per cent this year, still double the rate of inflation.

But local government leaders have warned that they will not be able to do so next year, suggesting that ministers have simply bottled up bigger bills until the election is out of the way.

The chancellor last year found an extra £512 million to keep council tax down in the run up to the poll.

Meanwhile the Telegraph reports that a Tory government would spare council tax payers from any increases.

Conservative local government spokeswoman Caroline Spelman said the revaluation due to take place would see bills "soaring" if Labour win.