THE budget "present" of £100 for pensioners was today welcomed by police chiefs, who say it will help the elderly pay rising council tax bills.

In a move seen by many as an attempt to head off a "grey revolt" over spiralling council tax demands, Chancellor Gordon Brown yesterday handed over-70s a one-off lump sum of £100.

North Yorkshire Police Authority backed the special payment, which it said recognised that rises unfairly hit people on fixed incomes and pensioners.

Jane Kenyon, police authority chairman, said: "We warmly welcome this initiative.

"For some time we have been drawing the attention of the Government to the effect council tax rises have on people with fixed incomes, and have called for ministers to take action.

"The current system of funding local public services throws most of the burden of any extra discretionary spending on to the council taxpayer.

"The burden is more acute on people on fixed incomes, for whom council tax payments take up a far higher proportion of their income."

But Coun Kenyon said she would have preferred the police authority to have received "sufficient funding" from the Government in the first place, which may have prevented a council tax hike.

Updated: 12:08 Thursday, March 18, 2004