FIGURES have been released showing Hillingdon Council has spent over £1.8 million on publicity in the last year.

The figures were obtained by the Taxpayers' Alliance, and showed the council to have increased its spending on promotion by £60,000 since last year, despite the fact that 217 councils nationwide have decreased spending.

Hillingdon's overall spend of £1,862,000 makes it the 74th highest spender out of 455 councils in the UK, and is more than neighbouring Harrow, less than Ealing, and more than twice as much as Bromley, the largest London Borough.

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: "It is incredibly disappointing that, despite the economic downturn and the loss of millions in Icelandic Banks, local authorities are still spending nearly half a billion pounds on publicity.

"The councils who have increased spending should hang their heads in shame.

"In the middle of a recession, councils need to cut back on propaganda and spin doctors and deliver savings to taxpayers."