HOUSEHOLDERS across North Yorkshire are facing a huge leap in their council tax to pay for their cash-strapped police force.

The county's police authority, beset by financial problems, yesterday approved a jump in their precept of 41.54 per cent.

The move will add an extra £26 to the police precept paid by a typical Band D household - taking the policing share of their council tax bill to a total of £88.59.

The police authority is the fifth-lowest-funded in the country per head of population, but is faced with a growing pensions bill, which is expected to hit £32m in six years time.

The general reserve has also been reduced by a series of expensive, high-profile incidents last year, including the Selby rail disaster which cost more than £970,000 to deal with.

The authority has been hoping to recoup that from the Government's emergency contingency funds through the Bellwin scheme, but so far no cash has been forthcoming.

It had been feared that the authority would have to cut the number of officers in the county - which is expected to reach an all-time high of 1,420 in March - to bridge the shortfall.

Last month, the authority embarked on a county-wide consultation process, holding a series of public meetings to outline its position.

"It is very clear from the feedback we've had that people are pleased that police numbers are reaching a record level," said authority chairman Jane Kenyon.

"They don't want to reduce those numbers, which is the only substantive alternative to a rise in the precept.

"The force has been bearing down hard on costs, savings of more than £1m are expected next year and capital spending has been reduced or deferred, but there is still a big shortfall.

"The need for a tax rise seems to be well understood, especially given that the cost, £1.70 per week for the average household, will still be below the average of England."

Police authority clerk Jeremy Holderness said: "The public's view was that they were prepared to pay more in council tax to maintain police levels.

"However, in return, they expected the police to maintain and, if possible, improve performance levels."