SWINDON councillors have voted themselves higher meal and travel allowances.

Their breakfast entitlement has gone up from £4.92 to £5.30.

Lunch has increased from £6.77 to £7.30, and they may now spend £8.90 on their evening meal, instead of £8.38.

They also have a tea allowance of £2.90, formerly £2.67.

The meal allowances can only be claimed if they spend more than four hours away from home at a stretch.

Mileage allowances have been raised to 40p per mile where a councillor uses a private car for council business involving a journey outside the borough.

Councillors are paid a basic allowance of £5,300, on top of any travel and meal expenses they may claim.

They can claim a further allowance for extra responsibilities such as chairing committees and serving as lead members in the cabinet.

Last year the 57 councillors claimed a total of £300,000, with the then leader of the council Kevin Small claiming £12,746.17, the highest expenses bill.

Deputy Conservative leader Ian Dobie said: "All the pay reviews are the recommendations of a completely independent review panel and have been going on for at least two years.

"In August they recommended that the allowances and expenses for Swindon councillors should be raised, to bring us more in line with national examples and the cost of living in this area."

The rise in travel and meal allowances follows a decision in March this year to boost the general allowance paid to ordinary councillors from £3,623 to £5,300 a year a rise of 43 per cent.