Voters want more choice in public services but are not willing to pay more in taxes to get it, the Audit Commission said yesterday.

The public spending watchdog commissioned a survey from MORI which found that more than half of respondents thought taxpayers should not have to pay more for more choice.

James Strachan, chairman of the Commission, said: "Most people love choice if it costs nothing. Moreover increasing choice, and specifically customer responsiveness, is vital if we are to improve public services. But the challenge is to ensure that we do this in a cost-effective and fair way."