WINCHESTER tenants on housing benefit are likely to have to find between £11 and £17 more each week as cutbacks kick in.

The changes come into force next year and around 540 households in the district are likely to be affected.

Of those, 270 are in one-bed accommodation, 190 in two-bed, 70 in three-bed and 10 in four-bed.

Council figures also showed that the average weekly rent for a one-bed property was £155, compared to £120 in Southampton.

The changes will only affect tenants in private rented homes. It will not include those in council or housing association properties.