COUNCIL tax payers in Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley face bills nearly nine per cent higher than last year.

Local authority chiefs say an 8.9 per cent increase is the price which must be paid to provide more police officers and cover increased fire service costs. It means the average band B householder will have to pay £853.88, compared to £784.43 last year.

The precepts for police and fire services -- which the local authority has no control over -- have increased by 33 per cent for police and 23 per cent for fire, compared to a 6.5 per cent tax rise for local authority services.

Greater Manchester Police says the extra cash is vital to enable the force to put 50 extra officers on the beat to address public concern over rising crime levels.

Council leader Peter Smith said: "The rise is higher than we would have preferred, but the Chief Constable has made a persuasive case for the extra police."

and that is a significant factor in the rise."

For the first time in many years there would be no significant cuts in council services.

, and schools would get more than the full amount of extra money allowed in the Government's budget settlement.

The 2003/2004 budget has been approved by the council's cabinet but still has to be formally confirmed by a special meeting of the full council on March 5.