Wage growth in Mendip has just failed to outstrip inflation in the last year, new figures show.

Across the UK, real terms wages have fallen again, while strike action across a range of industries is due to take place every day until the end of the year.

The Trades Union Congress said working people "have been pushed to breaking point" and urged the Government to engage in meaningful pay talks with unions.

Office for National Statistics figures shows median monthly pay for employees in Mendip sat at £2,004 in November – up from £1,949 the month before.

Monthly pay in the area has risen by 9% in the last year, as the rising cost of living hits people's wallets.

The Consumer Prices Index inflation accounting for owner occupier's housing costs (CPIH) – which the ONS uses to calculate real-terms pay – sat at 9.6% in the year to October, the highest since records began in 1989.

It means that wage growth in Mendip has roughly matched inflation in the last year.

Katherine Chapman, Director of the Living Wage Foundation, said: "The campaign for a real Living Wage has had a huge impact on tackling in work poverty, with over 370,000 workers now receiving an annual pay rise thanks to the commitment of 11,000 UK employers. 

"However, while this year's data on low paid jobs appears positive, our forecasts demonstrate a bleak picture for next year, with an estimated 5.1 million workers set to be paid below the real Living Wage.  With the cost of living rising and families facing more pressure this winter, it has never been more important for businesses do the right thing and commit to paying a real Living Wage."