A council which publicly shamed four of its members for failing to pay their council tax has emerged as the best in Norfolk at collecting business rates.

According to a table of council collection rates across Norfolk, North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) collected 99.3 per cent of business rates in the last financial year.

It was also second in the county for collection of council tax at 98.6 per cent.

The local authority credited easy payment methods, including ebilling and text message alerts, for helping residents to keep up to date with payments.

Last month NNDC revealed it took action against four of its councillors for non-payment of council tax - just months after they voted themselves a 23pc pay rise.

Councillor Wyndham Northam, NNDC's cabinet member for financial services, said: 'We do understand there are sometimes occasions when circumstances can change and paying council tax or business rates can drop down people's priority list.

'Paying rates and council tax is the right thing to do and is a legal requirement, so the fact NNDC, our businesses and our residents are up at the top of the league table is a super achievement.'