COUNCIL tax bills in a North Yorkshire district have been frozen for the fourth year in a row.

Hambleton District Council has agreed not to impose a £2.24 annual rise on residents, choosing instead to accept a Government “freeze” grant.

The council said not accepting the grant would have meant Band D bills increasing from £89.48 a year to £91.72.

Its leader, Coun Mark Robson, said: “A tax freeze is invaluable to our taxpayers in this hard financial climate and, through our robust financial planning, there will be no cuts to the services we provide and we remain the third-lowest council tax-charging authority in the country.”