Only 11 per cent of people working in the borough are earning less than the living wage, according to statistics released by the Trades Union Congress earlier this week. The living wage is an hourly rate based on the amount needed to cover the basic costs of living and is currently set at £7.85 – £1.35 more than the compulsory minimum wage.

The figures, which cover the earnings of both men and women, rank the borough as the fourth best percentage of those earning less than the living wage, behind Crawley with 10.2 per cent and Runnymede and Weybridge with 8.9 per cent, with Guildford coming top of the table with just 8.4 per cent.

Cllr Alan Ward, executive member for transformation and finance at Bracknell Forest Council, said: “I think what the statistics recognise is that there is a general prosperity and dynamism in Bracknell Forest and that companies can afford to pay the living wage. I am very pleased on behalf of people that get it.

“In my view, the government’s policies have helped to create a strong economy, which is the key to everything.” Bracknell Forest also fared better than its neighbouring local authorities, with 17.1 per cent of workers in Wokingham earning less than the living wage, while the figure was 12.4 per cent in the Royal Borough.

Across the south east, North Thanet in Kent fared the worst, with more than a third – 35.3 per cent – earning less than the living wage.

Peter Smith, president of Bracknell Chamber of Commerce, said: “This news demonstrates that employees in Bracknell Forest are highly skilled and therefore attract higher wages. This is good news for the local economy and reflects the success of local businesses in the area.”