COUNCILLORS and officials from a single local authority enjoyed a dozen air trips across Europe last year – with the tax payers footing the bill.

Staff and representatives of Canterbury City Council enjoyed trips to destinations included Spain, Norway, Sweden and Germany costing £4,060.

One councillor, Harry Cragg, and a senior official spent more than £1,000 flying first class back to the UK after visiting Italy for a day to witness the unveiling of a sign.

The revelations come at a time when the authority is poised to raise its portion of the council tax by 4.7 per cent. However, the council insists spending on international travel is crucial to its work.

Council spokesman Rob Davies said: “International activities play an important role in the council’s corporate objectives, particularly in culture, regeneration and tourism.

“They give us access to more funding opportunities, help build international partnerships that can deliver funding, promote Canterbury abroad and help us source cultural events for the local community. International travel is kept to a minimum and is only undertaken when it is clearly in line with the council’s international policy.”

The spending on flights was revealed following a Freedom of Information Act request to the council.

Cllr Cragg’s trip to Italy involved him attending the opening of the Via Francigena, a pilgrims route between Rome and Canterbury.

Mr Davies added: “The flight for £1,054 was a late booking for a trip to Italy to meet Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi at a Via Francigena event.

“Details of the event were kept secret until the last minute for security reasons, meaning the flight was much more expensive than if it had been booked well in advance, as all other flights were.”