There are about 6,000 holiday homes in Cumbria

Local councils are rowing about how to share out extra money which could be collected from the holiday home owners.

If there is no agreement, the cash will not be collected.

Currently second home owners pay half the usual rate of council tax, but local authorities now have the option of making them pay 90%.

Across Cumbria that would bring in �2.8m.

Property prices

The district councils in the county say they would like half, as they deal with the housing problems caused when second homes drive up the price of property.

But Cumbria County Council could decide to keep its normal share.

For South Lakeland district council, where about 3,500 of Cumbria's 6,000 holiday homes are, that would mean getting under �200,000, instead of more than �800,000.

The district councils, however, have the option of leaving the second home discount unchanged - meaning no one gets any extra money.

They have threatened to take that route unless the county agrees to a 50-50share at a meeting on 23 December.