THE lucrative tax break enjoyed by second home owners in West Somerset is at an end.

West Somerset District Council agreed on Wednesday night to take advantage of new regulations - and owners now face a levy of up to 90 per cent council tax on second homes.

This will bring in an extra £400,000 for the benefit of local communities.

But a row that had been brewing between the council and Avon and Somerset Police over how it intends to spend its share of the windfall is set to rumble on despite a statement issued by the force.

Until yesterday (Thursday), the police had not agreed to spend any of the money the force will receive from the tax hike in West Somerset locally.

But in what appeared to be a climbdown, the force's press department issued a one-line statement to the Somerset County Gazette.

A spokesperson said: "The Constabulary is resolved to spend locally any additional income raised."

She added that the police had taken this position in West Somerset because of the disproportionate number of second homes in the area.

The about face was greeted with scepticism by council chairman Mike Gammon, who said: "Don't hold your breath. I'd like to see it in writing, and even then I will have trouble believing it.

Previously, second homes have attracted an automatic 50 per cent discount, which many people believe has forced up property prices and led to "dead villages" with many homes uninhabited for much of the time.

For the full story, see the Minehead edition of this week's (January 16) Somerset County Gazette.