A TOWN council has increased its precept in the face of additional costs and reduced funding.

Chilton Town Council has agreed to put its precept for 2018/19 up by 5.8 per cent– a 14.4p a week rise for band A properties.

A Council spokesperson said it has maintained the precept rise at 2 per cent for a number of years but this rise was necessary to pay for additional expenditure and enable it to do more for residents.

Extra costs include funding street lights on the A167, from West Chilton towards Ferryhill, after Durham County Council reduced pedestrian lighting.

It will add music to the fireworks display on Friday, November 2 in response to public feedback from previous events and will run a coach trip this summer.

It also needs to plan to extend the cemetery in around 15 years time.

Mayor Councillor Tonya Duprey said: "I personally feel the town council runs within its budgets.

"Durham County Council has reduced its grant towards the Town Council’s precept. We still however need to try and cover everything the Town needs to remain at the standards it is at the moment and improve itself year by year."

She welcomed feedback from residents and urged people to complete a leisure questionnaire and attend meetings.