TOWN councillors have sought to justify increasing their share of the council tax, blaming the upcoming election for the spike.

Whitehaven Town Council is calling for an extra £35,607 and has set a precept for 2019-20 of £442,581.

It is a rise of 8.75 per cent compared with the 2018-19 figure of £406,974.

The increase represents an extra £5.42 on the annual average band D council tax, up from £61.06 to £66.48.

Councillors voted to approve the budget and precept at a Whitehaven Town Council meeting.

Town clerk, Marlene Jewell, said "the bulk" of the increase was due to forecasted election costs of £24,000, which have to be paid to Copeland Council.

Ms Jewell said the costs would have been higher, if it had not been a joint election.

Business rates for the town council's new office accommodation, the employment of a seasonal worker, and extra ward grants, were also given as reasons for the rise.

Speaking at the meeting, councillor Julie Rayson said: "Nobody wants an increase but it's inevitable. I don't want to pay anymore. I don't think it's a massive increase."

Graham Roberts, mayor of Whitehaven, added: "Unfortunately, democracy costs money and we can't get away from it. We are cushioned to some degree because Copeland stump up for the joint election."