BELFAST City Council has voted to freeze the district rate for the third year in a row.

The Alliance Party welcomed the move and claimed it had helped play a part in bringing it about.

Councillor Michael Long said in the current economic climate, striking a rate of 0% will “help many across the borough to balance household budgets, and maintain or improve their current standard of living”.

Household rates are made up of both a district rate set by local councils and a regional rate set by Stormont.

The council also agreed to write a letter of concern to Stormont Finance Minister Simon Hamilton about the increase to the regional rate.