Local elected representatives are being offered counselling for abuse they receive going about their daily duties.

Kent County Council (KCC) offers support not only for its staff but councillors too as bullying online and by email shows a worrying increase.

KCC's revelation comes as a Local Government Association (LGA) survey showed the number of elected members who reported feeling at risk has increased to a new high.

The study revealed 82% said they were vulnerable to harm some of the time while fulfilling their role.

The LGA also found that 54% of councillors have seen an increase in abuse aimed at them since they were first elected, while 81% reported experiencing intimidation and/or abuse in their role over the past 12 months. The findings are reflected in the experiences of KCC members.

Conservative cabinet member Cllr Dylan Jeffrey said: "The level of abuse and hate online has definitely increased and it is putting off people, good people, from standing as candidates for all the parties.

"Sometimes questioning a councillor is entirely justified and you have to be robust enough to take criticism but downright abuse isn't on.

"Not many people know this, but we offer counselling not only to staff but to elected members as well. That's where we've got to."

Earlier this summer after Tory Simon Webb made about Educational Health Care Plans (EHCP) – for which he apologised – he received a "torrent" of abusive messages online and by email.

He said: "Some of it was pretty abusive and often ill-informed and wrong. I don't even like thinking about the stuff, to be honest. It was destructive and really hurtful, not just to me personally but my family as well. It wasn't just online but by email as well.

"It seems to be the way of the world but you can see why people don't want to go into local politics and, if they do, they don't hang around for long."

Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Antony Hook said women tend to get more abuse than men.

He added: "When I was an MEP, I got many messages from Brexit supporters containing words of abuse. They tended to be emails rather than social media.

"I think women colleagues tend to receive more abusive messages. Many of the people with a mindset to send online abuse tend to be misogynists and rather pathetic specimens."

In the past Rochester and Strood MP Kelly Tolhurst has told how parliamentarians face the same level of hostility while simply trying to do their jobs.

The LGA has warned that a rise in abuse is preventing councillors from representing the communities they serve and deterring individuals from standing for election.

Local authorities are calling on the Government to work with the police on guidance to help address abuse and harassment of councillors.

Councillors Marianne Overton and Shabir Pandor, co-chairs of the LGA’s Civility in Public Life Programme Steering Group, said: “Abuse and intimidation aimed at local councillors is completely unacceptable and it is deeply concerning.

“Robust debate and scrutiny are critical parts of a healthy democracy. However, there is a clear line between debate and abuse, which should not be crossed.

“The Government and Ofcom should take steps to ensure that abusive behaviour does not continue unrestricted online, and the police should develop clearer guidance.”