EAST Hampshire District Council has defended the cost of producing it latest annual report.

With production costs of almost £14 per copy, the 30-page A4-sized publication – called Improving People's Lives – the 2011/12 overview has ruffled the feathers of one East Hampshire district councillor.

The illustrated report, printed on high-quality thick matt paper, conjures up the work of the council, its councillors and staff and features pictures of residents of the district taking part in a variety of activities. It also includes images of dappled sunlight through trees and an idyllic country scene of Buriton church.

But at a cost of £13.85 a copy to produce, the document has come under fire from Adam Carew, the Liberal Democrat opposition councillor on the Tory-run district council.

Mr Carew has lambasted the latest publication which is "designed to encourage investment into the area and promote economic development for future plans for the district".

For full story, see this week's Petersfield Herald.