PEOPLE across the Keighley district will pay more for their fire service in the coming year.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority has agreed a council tax precept rise of 2.99 per cent.

The increase will equate to an extra £2.31 a year for a Band D property.

Authority chair, Councillor Darren O’Donovan, says: "We must balance being extremely careful with our money, with providing the best level of service for people across West Yorkshire – a task that gets harder every year due to central Government refusing to invest properly in our fire and rescue services. We haven’t received capital funding for a decade now.

"Despite this, careful planning and risk management has allowed us to continue to work to the best of our abilities – becoming more efficient by investing in greener buildings and infrastructure.

"This rise will allow us to continue to provide the excellent fire and rescue service that the community deserves."

Chief fire officer John Roberts says that despite the increase, the West Yorkshire brigade remains among the fourth best value-for- money fire and rescue services in the country.

He adds: "We’d like to thank people for their understanding at this change in the precept."