The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) believe that rural businesses across the country are under threat from a hike in tax bills - due to a flawed rates system that is in urgent need of review.

The CLA will this week set out an action plan for Treasury Ministers to avert the impending business rates crisis, and chief secretary David Gauke has written a letter to that effect.

David sets out several points that he thinks the Government needs to take action on immediately, and believes would reduce the rates hike that many businesses are facing.

Points include removing the ban on businesses with multiple properties qualifying for Small Business Rates Relief and removing rates liability for empty buildings in rural areas.

John Mortimer, CLA South West director, said: "Rural businesses are suffering because of a clumsy and unfair rating system.

"From April, thousands of businesses will face dramatic increases in their rates bill, a problem exacerbated by a politically motivated decision taken in 2015 to delay revaluation.

“Ministers appear to have turned a deaf ear to this problem and, quite simply, it is not good enough.

"This week we are setting out an action plan that would go some way to defuse this looming crisis in the rural economy.

"We say Ministers could adopt these proposals as early as the Budget on 8 March.”