One in five councillors in England and Wales have received death threats or threats of violence, according to a new survey.

The findings from the Local Government Association (LGA) come as the group calls for the UK government to take more action to protect councillors and other local political figures.

Almost three-quarters of those who answered the LGA survey - 73% - said they had felt intimidated or experienced abuse in the past 12 months.

And 49% said they felt abuse had become worse in the last year.

Of the 1,734 respondents - who make up 10% of all councillors in England and Wales - 22% said they had received a threat of violence during their time in the role.

Some 23% of those said they had had a death threat, amounting to a total of 5% of all local politicians.

However, the number of councillors who felt at risk in the past year - 73% - is lower than last year, when it was 82%.

The LGA is the national membership body for local authorities and works on behalf of its member councils to support, promote and improve local government.

It is calling for the UK government to bring in changes to ensure safety for local politicians, including allowing them to avoid publishing their home addresses.

The association also wants a permanent government body to "monitor, assess and address abuse, intimidation and safety of locally elected politicians and candidates".

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Councillor Marianne Overton, chair of the LGA's civility in public life steering group, said: "These results are troubling."

She said they "highlight the concerns for the safety and wellbeing of councillors" and also show "how violence and intimidation can be corrosive to our democracy as they discourage people from taking up public office and from speaking fairly on vital issues".

Ms Overton added: "People must be able to represent their communities safely and without fear.

"Poor behaviour doesn't just impact the individual, it hurts everyone in communities, reducing the opportunity for open debate on important local issues. This has got to stop.

"We need government to act decisively to ensure high levels of abuse do not become an accepted part of public life and that councillors are safe and confident as they carry out their vital elected role - working to represent their communities."

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A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "Violence and intimidation have no place in politics, whether at the national or local level.

"Local councillors work tirelessly for their communities and they deserve the right to go about their work in safety and security.

"We will work hard to tackle the abhorrent abuse and hatred that some of them have to face."

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