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Households in London and the South East pay thousands more in taxes than they receive in state support, research claimed today.

Along with the South West and the East of England, they are the only regions making a net contribution to the public purse.

Meanwhile households in the North East and Wales receive between £2,000 and £3,000 more from the Treasury than they pay in taxes.

The startling analysis, based on official figures, also shows that London households pay more in tax overall than those in any other UK region.

The Centre for Policy Studies think tank, behind the research, today called on Chancellor George Osborne to ease the tax burden on hard-up Londoners.

Spokesman Adam Memon said: “London households pay higher taxes on average than any other part of the country.

“This means that any strategy to tackle the cost of living will be incomplete without measures to reduce the tax burden on London families who already facing the brunt of high housing, travel and childcare costs.”

The average London household receives £13,598 in total state support, including cash benefits and things like education spending.

But it also pays £16,202 in both direct and indirect taxes, meaning the household pays £2,604 more in taxes than it gets back.

In the South East households make a £3,663 net contribution, in the East they pay £1,818 more than they receive and in the South West, £382 more.

Households in all other regions receive more than they pay in taxes, with those in the North East taking the most, £2,934, followed by those in Wales who received £2,335 more.