CRUNCH time for Sedgemoor District Council has come this week as it was revealed the authority has consumed nearly £6,000 of taxpayer's money - on biscuits and hot drinks.

Last year the authority managed to eat and slurp its way through £5,950.40 of refreshments during meetings and functions alone.

September was the month that really took the biscuit when £658 was forked out on tea, coffee, and sweet snacks, in marked comparison to cheapest month May when only £192.40 was used.

Sedgemoor District Council spokesman Claire Faun defended how much money had gone on the complimentary cuppas.

"Many meetings are attended by people that give their time freely on a voluntary basis for the good of the community and it is felt that provision of limited refreshments is a small common courtesy," she said.

"This is tea, coffee and biscuits. The cost is roughly 40p per cup of tea or coffee and a biscuit. Sedgemoor District Council works in association with Pro-Serve a local company who provide the service."

The figures were obtained by the Mercury under the Freedom of Information Act and detailed exactly how much was spent from May 2005 to January this year.

It shows that on average councillors and visitors enjoyed getting through £458.54 of tasty treats and steaming beverages a month as they carried out their duties.

With the council explaining a drink and biscuit costs 40p, the year's spend means the council's hospitality was extended a total of 14,876 times during 2006.

The Mercury has looked into what the amount could have paid for and the total spent last year, if used just to buy cheap bourbon biscuits, would buy a staggering 35,002 packets of the variety.

Those plumping for a different bite could also enjoy an impressive 17,501 rich tea packs or even 12,935 tubes of digestives.

If the money was only to be spent on coffee the £5,950.40 would buy 15,658 100g jars - equivalent to an instant granules mountain of 1,565,800g, or 329,642 steaming mugs.

But if being used on just tea alone, the yearly cash would get you 20,518 of the cheapest box and 1,641,440 teabags or cups.