Monmouthshire County Councillors were awarded inflation-busting allowances this year as the total paid out to the 43 elected members topped £821,249, up from £766,860 last year.

Councillors are not paid a salary for their work, but they do receive allowances in the form of a basic amount, averaging £12,800, which can be topped up with expenses for travelling, special responsibility and care.

This year's total amounts to a seven per cent rise on last year's figures, more than double the rate of inflation set by the Bank of England, which currently stands at just over three per cent.

Topping the bill are councillors Liz Hackett-Pain for Wyesham and Brian Hood for Llanover, whose allowances exceed £31,000 each.