A COUNCIL'S press office and communications budget has more than doubled in a year.

In the financial year 2004/5 Greenwich Council spent around £480,000 on its press department but in 2005/6 this doubled to nearly £929,000.

News Shopper obtained the figures following questions raised by the leader of the council's Conservative group, Councillor Spencer Drury.

He said: "Yet again this council is spending more on publicising itself rather than doing the job the people of this borough elected it to do.

"Schools, hospitals, parks and social services all need improvement but instead we get more publicity.

"Does Labour really think this is the best way of spending our hard-earned money?"

The council says the increase was a result of a £325,000 web project, the introduction of a computer system and "interim staffing" totalling £113,000.

A further £10,000 resulted from the effects of inflation and "other minor variances".

The press office consists of seven officers and the budget also covers photography costs and press events.

A council spokesman said: "The council is required to have a website and our site improvements are a vital part of improving access to services delivered to residents."