Bloggers, Tweeters and video cameras will be allowed to attend meetings of Wirral Council from Monday.

The council is the first in Merseyside to respond to a request by the Government to allow greater public scrutiny of meetings and decisions.

Jeff Green, leader of the council, said: “Since we formed the administration in May, we have started to open up the council – there are radically less issues discussed ‘in private’ and more detail about how we use peoples taxes are being published each month.

"However, we must do more."

He added: “Technology now means that people can blog, film or broadcast using their phone or hi-definition video camera.

"I want people to have as much information as they want about their council, whether they are sitting in the public gallery at the town hall or sitting at home on their laptop.”

Councillor Ian Lewis, cabinet member for community engagement, said: “More and more local news comes from bloggers or citizen journalists telling us what is happening at their local council.

"From Monday, Wirral Council will welcome anyone who wishes to do this at our meetings.”

Chris Taggart, of OpenlyLocal.com, which has championed the need to open council business up to public scrutiny, said: "In a world where hi-definition video cameras are under £100 and hyperlocal bloggers are doing some of the best council reporting in the country, it is crazy that councils are prohibiting members of the public from videoing, tweeting and live-blogging their meetings.

"We are in the digital age and this analogue interpretation of the press access rules is holding back a new wave of local scrutiny, accountability and armchair auditors."

Demanding town halls become more open, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles earlier this week said: "Many councils are internet-savvy and stream meetings online, but some don't seem to have caught up with the times and are refusing to let bloggers or hyper-local news sites in.

"Opening the door to new media costs nothing and will help improve public scrutiny."