BBC staff earning six-figure salaries are to be handed pay rises of more than £1,000, at a time when the corporation is attempting to find savings of £800 million.

The broadcaster announced yesterday that it would offer all staff other than senior managers a one per cent pay rise this year, in a move that is expected to cost the corporation around £10 million.

The move, which mirrors the one per cent awarded to public sector workers, includes a minimum increase of £400.