SOUTH Cheshire is to get more bobbies on the front line in a crime-fighting boost to be paid for by council taxpayers.

The Cheshire force is to receive an extra 160 officers and support staff to address concerns about the lack of police on the street.

Residents are being expected to foot the bill for the increased manpower with a 20% rise in the policing section of council tax - an estimated £15 a year extra for a band D property.

The authority provided for the new recruits in its prospective 2003/04 budget and describes boosting its numbers as the number one priority.

Peter Nurse, police authority chairman and county councillor for Crewe North welcomed the news.

He said: "The people of Cheshire have clearly told us they want more responsive front line policing, reduced crime and increased public reassurance in the community.

"I believe this is a small price to pay for the significant investment being made in front line policing.

"The public are telling us they want more visible policing and that they want bobbies on the beat and I think they know that is going to cost money."

Some of the extra officers will be deployed in the county's community action teams, which respond to anti-social behaviour on a local level.

The new recruits will also be used to improve call handling and help police give more information to public enquiries.

The authority is juggling a total budget of £141 million, around 80% of which come from central government with the remainder from the council tax.

West End community spokesman Mick Stanton said: "This could mean ten extra officers for Crewe.

"The sight of more police on the beat and CCTV has helped to cut the crime rate on the last few years. But we also need to have better access to the police."