A decision to increase the police precept by 2.5 per cent has been slammed by councillors.

Lancashire Police Authority voted to increase the force’s share of council tax, despite the government offering a one-off grant of £2 million for it to freeze its rates for the next financial year.

The increase equates to an extra 1p per day for an average Band D property, or £3.66 a year, and will generate an income of £1.7 million. Of every £1 in council tax, 10p goes to the police.

Conservative group leader Peter Britcliffe said it was a ‘disgrace’ the authority snubbed the government's offer.

He said: "There is no way they should be increasing council tax this year when the government is prepared to provide a grant to prevent this."

Independent group leader Coun Nick Collingridge said the police had come in ‘at the final moment’ with its rise.

His group has submitted a motion to full council condemning the move, claiming residents are already being short-changed.

Both Lancashire County Council and Hyndburn Council opted to freeze their shares of council tax, as has the Lancashire Fire Authority.

It means average Band D properties will pay £1,552 in council tax from April, although most Hyndburn households will pay much less.

Hyndburn council leader Miles Parkinson said he was disappointed to hear of the increase but said preventing further police cuts needed to take precedence.

He said: "I wouldn't want to see any more police department cuts and if this is what the governing body has set forth to prevent that from happening, than we have to accept it."

Lancashire Constabulary has to make £42 million savings over the next four years as part of government cutbacks.

To date the constabulary has identified nearly £39 million of savings through reviews and efficiencies which have included closing some of its smaller stations across the county. Chief Constable Steve Finnigan said accepting the government’s grant would have resulted in a funding gap of £5.7 million in the 2013/2014 financial year.