Keighley-district council tax payers will have to fork out more for their police service in the next year.

A plan to increase the precept for West Yorkshire to protect frontline policing has been approved.

The decision was made by the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel.

The proposal, by West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson, to up the police tax by fractionally less than two per cent, was supported by the panel on Friday.

He told members the increase would help pay for the recruitment of 126 police officers and 70 essential police staff in the next year – though Government budget cuts will still mean an overall reduction of nearly 100 officers.