WARRINGTON Borough Council spent more than £1,000 on refreshments last year, new figures have shown.

The data, released by the TaxPayers' Alliance, shows that since in-person meetings have been able to take place, the council has spent £1,279 on refreshments.

These figures were obtained through a Freedom of Information request, with the council not specifying exactly what falls under the bracket of "refreshments."

The TaxPayers' Alliance also revealed that 10 Warrington Borough Council employees are earning more than £100,000.

Professor Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the council, earned a total of £151,266 - which is more than five times higher than the average salary for Warrington residents.

This comes after Warrington Borough Council increased council tax by nearly three per cent for the coming financial year.

Harry Fone, grassroots campaign manager at the TaxPayers' Alliance said: "Taxpayers in Warrington struggling with council tax rises and a cost of living crisis will be fuming at these figures.

"While households are forced to tighten their belts, councillors and council officials are loosening theirs.

"Town hall staff should stop taking the biscuit and make some much-needed savings for their residents."

A spokesperson for Warrington Borough Council said: "Food is not provided as a matter of course at council meetings and is only provided to members if they are in meetings which stretch over a period of half a day or more, or if, for example, they are attending training or a site visit and then going straight into a meeting."