Ministers were today urged to end a system of council funding which has left Norfolk �20m out of pocket.

Norwich South MP Simon Wright raised in the House of Commons the impact of the current local government funding formula on Norfolk County Council.

'Norfolk will receive more than �20m less than the assessed formula grant because of damping arrangements that were put in place by the previous government five years ago,' Mr Wright said.

'This government is about to begin a review of local government finance, and I felt it was important to put my concerns over the impact of the current funding system direct to Ministers in the House.

'Next year, Norfolk is expected to have the highest damping adjustment of all shire councils. It's important that ministers consider this and that we in Norfolk press for fairer funding arrangements as a result of the review. I've written to the Secretary of State, Eric Pickles, to highlight in more detail the situation that Norfolk is facing.'

The move comes as Norfolk County Council leader Derrick Murphy is also pressing the government to rethink the system. Last week at a meeting hosted by prime minister David Cameron Mr Murphy raised the so-called 'damping' formula which sees some of the cash earmarked for Norfolk redistrubuted to other parts of the country. He has also written to communities secretary Eric Pickles asking him to change the system.