The Government has announced an extra £3.4m for policing in Lincolnshire next year – a funding award that has been welcomed by the county's Police and Crime Commissioner.

In total PCC Marc Jones will receive £76.4m from the Government in 2020/21 to invest in policing – up from £73m this year.

The rest of the Lincolnshire policing budget is paid for directly by local residents through Council Tax which currently amounts to circa £59m.

However, the Government has allowed Police and Crime Commissioners the flexibility to raise the local precept in 2021 by 29p per week for an average Band D property.

If Mr Jones receives support through his consultation to increase Council Tax it will mean that there could be £138.4m next year to deliver policing across Lincolnshire.

A decision on the increase in the police element of the Council Tax will be made in the New Year only after the results of an extensive public consultation are reviewed.

Mr Jones said he welcomed the increase in funding that will pay for an extra 49 police officers next year.

"There is much to celebrate in the Government announcement and any extra funding will be invested in keeping our communities safe, most going directly to boost Officer numbers.

"The Government's programme to increase the number of frontline officers is already making a real difference and it is excellent news that support will continue for that.

"I am very conscious of the pressures all residents are under due to the effects of the pandemic and the burden a decision to increase Council Tax, even by a small amount would make.

"However, I have to balance that against delivering the best possible policing to keep our communities safe. Any decisions should and will be based on the feedback from our robust consultation."

Government funding across England and Wales will increase to £15.8 billion and will support further increases in police officer numbers as part of the commitment to recruit 20,000 officers by March 2022/23.

A decision on the policing element of the Council Tax will be made in the New Year.