SECOND home owners could be asked to shell out double the amount of council tax to protect communities and save vital services.

An MP is calling for the government to permit local authorities to stamp an additional charge on second home council tax in order to subsidise local services.

Following cuts to transport, the closure of rural post offices, schools and the threat to surgeries in Coniston and Hawkshead, Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron has written to Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne ahead of the autumn statement.

"If 50 per cent more people were living in these communities we wouldn't be having this problem," he said. "If people can afford £400,000 for a bolt hole, it's not unreasonable to ask them to pay say 10 per cent more.

"Ideally I think we could double it or have it anywhere between one and 100 per cent."

The South Lakes MP said the patient roll in Coniston and Hawkshead is around 1,000 for each surgery and they would probably need another 300-500 patients in both cases to ensure they stay viable for the future.

"In parts of South Lakeland over 80 per cent of properties are second homes," added Mr Farron. "And while we are not denying their right to have second homes, we can't deny that half empty villages are damaging for the remaining community."

People at the moment who own a second home pay 100 per cent of the council tax bill in that area but Mr Farron believes an additional charge of 10 per cent would generate around £1.25 million to help support rural life line services.

Hawkshead Relish owner Maria Whitehead said she backed the campaign.

"The daft thing is that the people who have these second homes, quite rightly would want to be able to see a doctor when they are here, or for their guests to be able to see one, so it stands to reason that somehow this gap should be filled in some way," she said.

"I think a charge on second homes would not only be essential to help bridge the gap but also a morally right one for holiday home owners to ensure that by owning a property they are not contributing to the closure of essential services that they , their families and customers may well be in need of."

In September 200 concerned patients at a public meeting at Hawkshead Market Hall were told the threat of closure still hung over their village surgery.