CONSERVATIVES in Crewe and Nantwich are calling on the Government to step in and cap the Cheshire Police Authority's Council Tax demands at 5% after it voted to increase its share of the bills by almost 7%.

Tory borough council leader Brian Silvester said: 'Since the Police Council Tax was introduced in 1995/96 it has gone up by over 155% which is more than four times the rate of inflation.

'As well as paying this local residents are funding, through their borough Council Tax, CCTV in the two towns, five community wardens and part-funding five Police Community Support Officers, costing £485,000 per year.

'The Government should step in to protect local taxpayers from this huge inflation-busting increase.'

The Cheshire Police Authority budget rise will add an average £7.50 a year to Council Tax bills.

The Authority's chairman, Cllr Peter Nurse, said it had listened to people's calls for improved police services, but blamed poor government funding for the above-inflation increase.

He added: 'Because we have not been able to raise revenue from the Government we have had to increase the Council Tax by more than we would have liked.' ad-He said they would funding for counter-terrorism and organised crime as well as victim and witness care despite government cuts.

He added: 'Increases in Council Tax are unpopular, but sometimes it is necessary to maintain and improve policing services.'