A west London council has gone down a different route in trying to save taxpayers' money, involving video site Youtube and Status Quo.

Hammersmith and Fulham Council have posted a Youtube video featuring Harry Hammersmith & The Flyovers with a cover version of the Status Quo classic 'Down, Down' in a bid to highlight its second 3 per cent council tax cut in a row.

The Tory-led council claims it also keeps communication costs down while reaching a far greater audience.

The council is now claiming to be the first local authority in Britain to engage residents on its budget using YouTube.

Council leader Stephen Greenhalgh said the move would help it get in touch with an audience traditionally hard to reach.

He said: "We want to engage with as many people as possible on our budget plans for 2008/9 - particularly how you can lower tax bills and improve service."

Greenlaigh said the band only charged expenses while council staff worked in their free time at weekends, putting the cost of producing the video at £500.

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