Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

More council tenants are in rent arrears in Wiltshire.

More council tenants have fallen into arrears across Wiltshire since housing benefit changes came into force.

In Wiltshire, 70% of the 400 council house tenants affected are now in arrears on their rent, compared to 50% before April.

The new rules came into force in April where people with a spare bedroom would lose a proportion of their benefits.

Under the changes, social tenants deemed to have more bedrooms than they need have had their housing benefit reduced. Ministers say private sector renters do not get spare rooms free, and argue the change will save around £500m a year and free up much needed larger properties.

Wiltshire Council has yet to comment on the figures.