West Hill residents will see a small drop in their annual payment to the parish council after it sets its budget for 2018/19.

Parish councillors set the precept – its share of council tax – at a recent meeting, voting to increase it by 2.5 per cent from £55,000 to £56,375 for the next financial year.

But an increase in the number of homes in the parish from 1,100 to 1,134 means that taxpayers will actually see their payments reduce slightly.

The average band D property will pay £49.71, down from £50 last year.

West Hill Parish Council formed last April after villagers voted to break away from Ottery.