THE voluntary real living wage is to increase to £10.85 an hour in London and £9.50 across the rest of Britain, giving a pay rise for more than 250,000 workers.

The new rates, announced by the Living Wage Foundation today, are an increase of 10p in the capital and 20p elsewhere, and will be paid by almost 7,000 employers.

More than 800 employers have accredited with the foundation since the start of the virus crisis, including Tate and Lyle, Network Rail and the All England Lawn Tennis Club.