Horsforth residents could soon go to the polls to elect their first parish council in 72 years.

A campaign to establish a Horsforth Parish Council was rubber stamped by city council bosses on Tuesday and could now see elections held on May 10 this year.

The bid has won approval from the Secretary of State under the Local Government and Rating Act of 1997, which allows urban districts to set up their own councils if there is more than 10 per cent support from the electorate.

The recommended parish council levy - which would be in addition to city council tax - has been set at £79,440, or £12 per Horsforth household.

Leading campaigner Professor Tom Nossiter, of Newlay Lane, Horsforth, said: "It's all tremendous news and we're delighted by the progress that's been made.

"Now we just want it to be rubber stamped and we're working on how the committee structure will work and gearing up for May."

Prof Nossiter said the precept reflected the fact that the parish council would be setting itself up during its first year and it was possible it could increase in subsequent years.

"This has made waves around Leeds. Now Headingley is drawing up a campaign for a parish council, as are Pudsey and Morley.

"It's not just happening in the areas of Leeds which have been traditionally dissident, such as Horsforth, being strongly Liberal Democrat," he said.

The last parish council was active in Horsforth in 1927, to be replaced by the Horsforth Urban District Council (UDC) which was dissolved in 1974 when the village came under city council control.

Just over 40 per cent of the electorate in Horsforth supported the new bid in a city council survey, but there has been opposition from some residents who object to an increase in their council tax payments.

However, by securing a positive vote of more than 10 per cent in the campaign group's initial petition, they met statutory requirements.

The council will be set up at the start of April, with the three ward councillors acting as 'caretakers' until the official body is elected.

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