UK savers told to act now before Easter Sunday cash Isa deadline

Interest rates as high as 4.45% and a steep cut in next year's allowance fuel forecast of last-minute rush

• Cost of living: how to prepare for the awful April' shower of bill increases

Savers who want to make the most of this year's cash Isa allowance are being urged not to leave it to the last minute, as the deadline for applications falls on the Easter weekend.

The Isa wrapper allows people to save or invest money and benefit from the returns free of tax. Each tax year, people can pay in up to 20,000, which can then be moved around in subsequent years without the tax benefits being lost.