Anglesey will become the first part of Wales to offer full council tax relief to residents with a terminal illness.

From 1st April, local people facing end-of-life-care will be eligible for either a full tax reduction for up to 12 months or until two months after they die.

Councillors backed the policy earlier this month, which will be available to those whose main residence is on Anglesey.

Annibynwyr Môn councillor Jeff Evans, who brought forward a motion last December, said: "I’m glad and I appreciate that Anglesey County Council and its members felt able to support this motion."

"Supporting people in the community at the end of life is both right and just, and it will help to ease financial pressures at such a difficult time.”

Anglesey Council says only a small number of other local authorities in the UK have introduced similar measures - and the move demonstrates its commitment to supporting vulnerable people "with compassion, dignity and fairness".

Council leader Gary Pritchard said: “This is a compassionate and progressive policy that places people at its heart. Families facing terminal illness should be able to focus on what matters most - supporting their loved ones."

"By becoming the first council in Wales to introduce this level of support, we are setting a strong example of how local authorities can act with empathy and fairness.”

According to Marie Curie, around 90% of people who die each year require palliative or end-of-life care - with the charity among those who have called for better financial protection for the terminally ill.

Natasha Davies, senior policy manager at Marie Curie Cymru, added: "We’re very pleased to see councillors in Ynys Môn vote to extend much needed financial support to people living with a terminal illness. Too many people at the end of life are left worrying about how to make ends meet."

"There is growing recognition in Wales of the need to better financially support people who are living with a terminal illness, to protect them from poverty and financial hardship."

Given that council tax is the second biggest cost after housing for most people, reducing this bill is one of the most effective ways of getting money into people’s pockets quickly."

"To ensure that everyone in Wales can access this vital support, Marie Curie Cymru continue to call on the Welsh Government to include people living with a terminal illness in the council tax reduction scheme.”

The council says it will review the new policy after twelve months to ensure it continues to meet residents' needs effectively.