COUNCILLORS' allowances have shot up by 80 per cent in four years, the fourth highest rise in the country, an investigation has revealed.

The BBC asked all councils in England to tot up the allowances paid to councillors, and Enfield Council's figures show an increase of 82 per cent, far above the Consumer Price Index measure of inflation for the period, which is seven per cent.

The total amount claimed by all councillors last year was £944,000, more than Westminster, Bexley, Camden and Tower Hamlets. In 2004-05 it was £519,000.

But it was less overall than Haringey, Barnet and Waltham Forest, whose councillors claim over £1m in total.

Councillors in Enfield all receive a basic allowance of £10,570. They then get special responsibility allowances of up to £28,000 for their individual posts and expenses on top of that, though this bill tends to be less than £100.

For example, council leader Michael Rye receives a special responsibility allowance of £27,825 this year, while the smallest allowance, of £2,525, is for the chairman of the standards committee.

Mother-of-one Katy Teather, 39, of Winchmore Hill, said: "When you think about how much inflation has risen, it's worrying. They should be held accountable because nothing should be going up by 80 per cent."