NEWS of a police demand for more taxpayers' cash has provoked a challenge from an MP.

Dr Ashok Kumar, the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP, reacted in response to Cleveland Police Authority's decision to increase its council tax precept by six per cent.

He asked that the increase be "ring-fenced", and used to provide more bobbies on the beat.

He said: "This tax hike comes on top of a 30 per cent increase last year, and will mean that every home in my constituency will now have to find nearly £70 a year to pay for levels of policing which almost everyone sees as inadequate.

"At every surgery I hold, I meet local people concerned about the levels of crime and anti-social behaviour in their community.

"Now they face yet another increase in the cash they have to fork out to Cleveland Police.

"I issue a challenge to the police authority.

"Can you guarantee that this increase will be ring-fenced and that it will be devoted solely to employing more police on the beat?"

Dr Kumar went on to claim that a refusal to meet the challenge would arouse suspicions of the money being spent on internal inquiries, expensive cars and the employment of media consultants.