More than 15,000 people living alone in North West Leicestershire could be hit by a tax hike amid speculation over a possible Government rule change. 

Currently, single-person households get a 25 per cent discount on the amount of council tax they pay.

Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister, said the Labour Government currently has no plans to scrap the discount, but refused to rule it out. 

This has sparked fears that millions of people across the county could see their bills skyrocket, the Reach Data Unit reports.

In North West Leicestershire, 15,082 people would be affected by the scrapping of the discount.

In Leicester and Leicestershire, 138,561 people are currently eligible for the lower rate – just shy of a third of the local population. 

Across the county, residents pay council tax twice – once to their district or borough council and also to the county council. Leicestershire County Council also faces a challenging financial situation, though its leadership has previously sworn "hell would freeze over" before they filed for bankruptcy.

The county council also approved putting its share of the bill up by the full five per cent in February. 

The district and borough authorities are able to increase their portion of council tax by up to three per cent. 

This financial year saw North West Leicestershire District Council vote for an increase for the first time in 15 years as its cost pressures were "so significant".

Of the county areas, Charnwood has the most residents who would be impacted by the scrapping of the discount at 22,887 (30 per cent). 

Hinckley and Bosworth Borough and Melton District however have the highest percentage of people within their boundaries who would be charged more – 33 per cent. They have 16,974 and 7,975 single-person households respectively.

North West Leicestershire's figures amount to 32 per cent.

Some 13,704 households in Blaby District would see their taxes hiked, with Harborough District coming in slightly behind at 13,321. 

This would be around 31 per cent in both areas. Oadby and Wigston Borough would collect more tax from 7,654 people (32 per cent).