CRICKLADE: Residents will be paying more for their council tax services next year. The town council has agreed to a 34.7 per cent rise in the town's precept for the next financial year.

Last year the town's precept was set at £108,750, but from April 2002 and subject to approval by North Wiltshire District Council and Wiltshire County Council, this will rise to £146,512.

This means that an average band D tax payer's bill will rise from £71.26 to £94.34, an increase of approximately £1.80 a week.