FLOOD victims who are unable to live in their homes could soon be entitled to reduced council tax bills.

Government Ministers have announced plans to give councils across Worcestershire discretionary powers to reduce bills.

Present rules mean that unless all the furniture has been removed, flood victims still have to pay full council tax - even though water damage has made their home uninhabitable.

This is despite the fact they may also be paying council tax on their temporary accommodation.

Flood victims from Hylton Road and the Diglis areas of Worcester have helped highlight the unfair rules.

Diane Moss and Lesley Bond are just two people who were forced from their homes but still told to pay full council tax.

Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford said the Government was aware there may be circumstances where people find themselves the owner of a second home or property which are "beyond their control".

He said that, in this instance, councils should be allowed to consider council tax "exemptions".

Ministers are consulting on how much the discount should be.

The Worcester Action Against Floods committee said this was a policy that needed to be implemented across the country.

"There ought to be the same rules nationwide that everyone gets treated the same," said Mary Dhonau, chairman of the action group.

"It's great that the Government has said this because this was one of the things we addressed early on in committee meetings.

"Shrewsbury immediately gave everyone a complete rebate but as far as I know, no one in Bewdley has received anything.

"There should be a new law that says the minute you move out because your house is uninhabitable you should be able to stop paying.

"It's totally wrong that you are forced to pay twice, simply because you've moved your furniture upstairs.

"You've got enough stress going on as it is, and then you've got council tax bills on top of it."

The Government is consulting on the proposal, with the deadline for responses February 15, next year.