Nearly 1,800 BBC staff reportedly saw their pay increased by more than 10% last year.

The corporation confirmed that staff enjoyed a 1% rise in 2016 and said bigger salaries reflected promotions.

But 1,763 of the 19,357 full-time staff in the UK saw their pay packets jump by more than 10%, according to a Freedom of Information request reported in The Sun.

The increases cost the taxpayer a total of £13,933,500, the paper said.

Tony Hall, the Director-General of the BBC
Tony Hall, the Director-General of the BBC (Justin Tallis/PA)

Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen told The Sun: “It underlines why so many people despair of the BBC. The gravy train continues to roll. The BBC talks about austerity but they have clearly never experienced it.”

A spokesman for the BBC said there had been pay rises but said many were as a result of people being given “significant extra responsibilities”.

He said: “BBC staff received a 1% pay rise last year but in any large organisation – especially when making significant back office savings like the BBC – there will be people who are promoted or take on significant extra responsibilities which will be reflected in their salary.”

Documents released earlier this year revealed the BBC’s highest-paid stars, with Radio 2 presenter Chris Evans topping the list on more than £2 million.