COUNTY Tories have hit out at proposed council tax increases claiming they will penalise people the authority's services are designed to support.

Earlier this month, the ruling Labour/Liberal Democrat group on Worcestershire County Council posted three possible increases on the authority's website -- 7.5 per cent, 10.7 per cent and 13 per cent -- and asked for people's preferred option.

But the council's Conservative group leader, Cllr June Longmuir (Con, Bromsgrove South), said: "Increases from 7.5 per cent to 13 per cent, on top of a 30 per cent increase over the last three years, will only penalise the very people the council's services are designed to support.

"Central Government has totally rejected pleas for fairer funding and this year's settlement looks set to undermine our position even more.

"But we do not accept increases of such magnitude and will be putting forward our own alternative when the final settlement is known."

The authority, which provides vital services including education, through council tax and government funding, says Worcestershire will still have one of the lowest council taxes in the country.

Council leader Cllr Carol Warren (Lab, Stourport - Severn) said the increase was necessary because changes in the Government's formula for distributing cash meant more of it was going into big cities and councils in the South East."

A final decision will be made at the next full council meeting on Thursday February 22.