Nearly three quarters of Londoners would like to see their council tax replaced with a local income tax, according to a new poll.

The MORI survey shows that 73 per cent of ratepayers would either support, or tend to support, such a change.

The result will please London mayor Ken Livingstone, who plans to increase council taxes to fund a rise in police numbers.

The poll also showed that 55 per cent of voters were either satisfied or very satisfied with Livinstone's performance as mayor.