TAXPAYERS can trawl through the council's bills and see exactly where every penny is spent from this week.

Ministers wrote to all councils asking them to publish items of spending over £500 by January 1 2011.

But the Forest of Dean District Council has decided to go a step further by publishing all its bills on a monthly basis, not just those over £500.

Three reports will cover purchase invoices, procurement cards and travel expenses.

Online surfers can see company names and a broad description of what they are charging the council for their services.

Council leader Peter Amos said: "The council believes it's very important to be open about how public money in the Forest of Dean is spent.

"By putting the details online the community can see how their money is being spent by this council."

The website can be found through the council budgets and spending area of http://www.fdean.gov.uk">www.fdean.gov.uk Questions can be sent by email to 500plus@fdean. gov.uk, quoting the month, the cost centre/ account code, the supplier and the amount.