CARE leavers who continue to live in Warrington are exempt from paying council tax to help them manage their budgets as they move into independent accommodation.

The Children's Society has been calling on councils to make young people leaving care exempt from paying council tax until they turn 25.

It believes the move will give people valuable time to learn how to manage their finances 'without the worry' of falling into council tax debt.

Warrington Borough Council is among the authorities that have introduced the measure.

The authority can exercise discretion, rather than imposing a fixed upper age limit, for the exemption.

A council spokesman said: "We introduced the exemption to reflect the challenges faced by many care leavers as they learn to budget their finances independently.

"In doing so, the council acknowledged the role played by the 2015 Children's Society Report: Wolf at the Door – how council tax debt collection is harming children.

"This suggested care leavers are a particularly vulnerable group for council tax debt.

"It found when care leavers move into independent accommodation they begin to manage their own budget fully.

"This can be a challenging time, particularly if they are falling behind on their council tax.

"The report made a number of recommendations – and the council has adopted the primary recommendation by introducing an exemption."

Councils must continue to provide support until care leavers are 25.