COUNCIL tax payers will be asked to fork out an extra 40p a month to help fund the county's police officers.

Newly-elected police and crime commissioner Nick Alston said the increase for policing, in the council tax precept, would amount to a £4.77 increase residents living in Band D homes would have to pay each year.

The hike is still yet to be agreed by the police and crime panel but it would help the force as it continues to make savings of £42million by 2014.