The government has axed its funding for neighbourhood wardens, shadow home secretary David Davis has said.

Ahead of May's local elections, the Tories are hoping to capitalise on David Cameron's emphasis on their environmental policy.

And Davis said that deputy prime minister John Prescott has stopped central funding for all the 210 warden schemes awarded cash since 2001, leaving council taxpayers to foot the bill.

"Protecting our environment requires action on vandalism, litter and anti-social behaviour, in addition to tackling challenges like climate change and pollution," he said.

"Before the last election, Tony Blair pledged to treble funding for community wardens to help reclaim the streets.

"Yet five years on, these warden schemes are now sidelined by Whitehall. Local taxpayers have been left to pick up the bill, on top of a soaring police levy on council tax bills."

Although the government has always maintained the schemes were intended to be financed locally in the long run, shadow local government secretary Caroline Spelman said: "This is yet another example of the government launching an eye-catching election initiative, but failing to fund it properly when the press interest dies away.

"Such burdens on councils are a key reason why hard-working families and pensioners are facing soaring council taxes under Labour."