ALTON residents face a 0.86 per cent increase in their council tax bills for 2014/15, with band D householders having to find an additional £12.67, or 24p a week.

The new charges, which come into effect on April 1, will see Hampshire County Council taking the lion's share of the council tax at 70.6 per cent, Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner next with 10.5 per cent, East Hampshire District Council 9.3 per cent, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service 4.1 per cent, and Alton Town Council 5.3 per cent.

While both Hampshire County Council and East Hampshire District Council have frozen their precept for 2014/15, Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service has reduced its precept by two per cent, having made £2m in savings over the last year.

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