Could Bath be the first place in the country to tax tourists to stay?

Bath could become the first city in the country to charge overnight visitors a 'tourist tax' on top of their hotel or bed & breakfast bill.

The idea has been put forward as a way to help boost council finances - as they try to make £37 million of savings over the next 5 years.

But B&B owners have told ITV News the move would be terrible for business.

Even on a grey and rainy day, Bath still attracts visitors from far and wide and it's this popularity which the the council says could help ease financial pressures.

The fear of some business owners in the city is that it'll put off visitors.

Robert Briers runs a guest house. He says a tourist tax would see visitor numbers fall.

Bath could be the first city in the country to introduce the tax so even the experts are unsure as to what the impact could be.

The city's council told us they had begun discussing the move with the Government but that implementing a tax would need a change in legislation on a national level.

The said that should the idea be taken forward, they would consult with local people and business owners.

But for now, visitors to the city only have the weather to contend with.