TWO Bucks councils have been handed more than 100 tickets for the London Olympics - including four to the opening ceremony - which could be purchased with £9,000 of taxpayers cash.

A campaign group warns that none of the tickets should be dished out as 'perks' to councillors and staff at Buckinghamshire County Council and South Bucks District Council.

The councils are both host authorities for the games, with the rowing and sprint canoeing events to be held at Dorney Lake.

They say the tickets, which have not yet been bought, would be used to reward residents who have “contributed to the community involvement and success of the games”.

A total of 117 tickets have been allocated, including four for the opening and closing ceremonies. If they are all bought, they would cost Bucks County Council £5,632 and South Bucks District Council £3,332, according to a Freedom of Information request.

At least eight London councils have turned down the chance to buy tickets, though most have accepted.

Emma Boon, of the lobby group Taxpayers Alliance, told the Bucks Free Press: “It’s lovely that [the councils] want to reward involved members of the local community, but taxpayers’ money shouldn’t be spent on tickets for politicians or council staff.

“Residents have already paid for the Olympics through their taxes, and there must be a real justification for giving away tickets paid for with taxpayers’ money; this must not simply be a thinly veiled excuse to give another perk to those employed by councils.”

Ian Barham, Bucks manager for the 2012 Games, said: “Officers will be asking members to consider the criteria for public allocation of these tickets later this year with a view to the selection process being undertaken by members during 2012.

“We hope that our local media partners will be actively involved throughout this process to provide a once in a lifetime experience to deserving members of our community."

“It is intended to utilise these tickets to reward Buckinghamshire residents who have significantly contributed to the community involvement and success of the games through education, sporting, business and community activities.”

The councils have not yet given details of how they would pay for the tickets, or how many will be bought.