SOUTH Lakeland residents are the most successful in England and Wales at challenging their council tax bills, figures suggest.

The Valuation Office Agency resolved 110 challenges from South Lakeland residents over their council tax bill in 2020-21 – with 80 (73 per cent) resulting in a reduction.

Of areas in England and Wales with at least 100 challenges resolved, this was the highest success rate, and well above the 9 per cent seen in Windsor and Maidenhead and Oldham.

Across the two nations, 11,670 resolved disputes (31 per cent) resulted in a resident's council tax band being decreased last year – up from 29 per cent in 2019-20.

Just 40 households saw their council tax band increase.

Overall, 40,620 challenges were launched nationally in 2020-21 – 120 of them in South Lakeland.