More than 140 people were employed on potentially tax-avoiding "off payroll" contracts for Waltham Forest Council last year, it has emerged.

Figures obtained using the Freedom of Information act show 144 staff were on contracts outside of normal arrangements, ranging from £47 to £226,334, in 2012.

Such measures, which are legal, can mean full tax is sidestepped by employees being technically paid through a company instead.

A council spokesman said the majority of the 144 were on short-term contracts for small pieces of work, such as plumbing.

He said there were "less than ten" interim managers who were paid outside the council's normal arrangements, but failed to provide further details.

The spokesman added: "All of the council’s directly employed staff have relevant income tax and national insurance deductions made at source.

“The vast majority of agency staff employed by the council are engaged via Matrix, the council’s neutral vendor supplier.

"Accordingly all invoices to staff engaged via Matrix are paid to Matrix and the arrangements around tax are handled by them.

“The council also has service contracts with partners to assist it in providing its services to the residents of the borough. Again, the pay arrangements of the employees of these partners are for that employer to consider."