THOUSANDS of workers in Somerset have been given a pay rise from today (Thursday).

The National Living Wage has been bumped up 2.2 per cent to £8.91 - which equates to almost £350 a year for full-time employees.

Workers aged 23 and 24 will also receive what was previously known as the minimum wage for the first time - until now it had only applied to people aged 25 and over.

Statutory rates for apprentices and those employees aged 18 to 22 also go up.

But low-paid workers on the Government's furlough scheme will not qualify for the increase.

Workers in the retail, hospitality and cleaning and maintenance sectors are most likely to benefit.

The increases from today will take minimum pay to:

£8.91 an hour for workers over the age of 23 (up from £8.72).

£8.36 for people aged 21 to 22 (up from £8.20).

£6.56 for 18 to 20-year-olds (up from £6.45).

£4.62 for under-18s (up from £4.55).

£4.30 for apprentices (up from £4.15).

Boris Johnson said the increases are "a welcome boost to families right across the UK".

The Government is advising all workers to check their pay slips to ensure they are being paid the correct amount.