ALMOST 11,000 hard-up households in Powys have been spared from having to find cash to pay council tax for the first time.

County Councillors are today (Thursday) set to agree new rules for council tax relief after the UK Government abolished council tax benefit.

However a last minute decision by the Welsh Government to fully fund a support programme in Wales means qualifying residents will still be entitled to a full 100 per cent reduction.

Read the full story in this week's Brecon & Radnor Express - out now!