Almost 250 businesses will have their rates slashed by a total of £142,000, according to Cotswold District Council.

Revealing how it is allocating this year's pot of Government money the council said firms with a rateable value of less than £200,000 would be the beneficiaries.

Where applicable, the local authority will issue business rate bills for 2018/19 with the relief already accounted for in the total, rather than requiring individual firms to apply for this separately.

So far it has allocated a total of £142,000 for the purpose, with individual businesses receiving up to £8,400 in relief.

Cllr Mark Annett, leader of the district council, said: "This is great news for many small businesses in the Cotswolds. It's the second year of relief following the national revaluation of business rates conducted by the Valuation Office Agency which resulted in many firms receiving an increase in their bills last year.

"I must add that, in addition to this scheme, we are also continuing the council's Small Business Rate relief scheme which applies to eligible businesses occupying premises with a rateable value of less than £15,000."

Any business in receipt of this relief which feels it is not eligible should advise the council within 28 days of receiving their revised bill.

Last year the council, along with Stroud, which the only two in the county to properly understand the way funds should be allocated to businesses.

A misunderstanding on the part of Gloucester City Council, Cheltenham Borough Council, Tewkesbury Borough Council and the Forest of Dean left £256,000 in the coffers which all four were planning to send back to central Government unspent, until their mistake was highlighted by Punchline-Gloucester.com.

All councils eventually realised the error of their ways and called on businesses to contact them and claim the money.

Read more: Investigation: Millions of pounds for business rate relief unspent or out of reach