EALING Borough has jumped nine places from last year in the amount of uncollected council tax recovered.

Last year, more than £7million of the tax was uncollected, on top of £4.89million the year before - equating to a six per cent rise in council tax for residents.

But new figures released by public services union GMB show the borough has now moved from fourth-worst to tenth in London for rates of uncollected tax.

Out of the 33 councils, Ealing was ranked as the second most improved, but there is still more than £5million outstanding.

Cllr David Scott, cabinet member for finance and performance, said: "Ealing has been making a concerted effort to improve council tax collection and we are seeing results."

He added: "What is more pleasing is the improvements to our overall council tax collection rates.

"The council improved from 19th to tenth in London last year and we are on track to deliver an equally strong result this year."

As of March 31, Ealing had collected 95.6 per cent of 2005/6 taxes and since then a further £1.5 million has been collected.