A SHOCK four per cent council tax rise is on the cards across Worcestershire - lumbering thousands of householders with inflation-busting hikes.

The Advertiser can reveal how County Hall's Conservative leadership wants to increase bills by 3.9 per cent from April - despite inflation being flat.

It would see people in the biggest properties forking out at least an extra £85 a year, while average band D homes will rise by more than £42.

Last month Chancellor George Osborne ripped up a previous two per cent 'cap' on council tax bills for authorities dealing with adult social care.

It means top-tier ones, including Worcestershire County Council, now have a new limit of four per cent without having to call a public referendum first.

If voted through in February, it will mean since 2014 Worcestershire County Council will have upped its bill by nearly eight per cent.

Councillor Peter McDonald, who leads the opposition Labour group, has already said he will vote against it.

He said: "I'm shocked by this - what people have got to understand is that it means council tax will have gone up eight per cent over three years.

"That's a tremendous increase.

"I don't know how they think people can keep on finding this extra money, all it will do is increase hardship."

The proposed rise comes despite inflation being in negative territory for two months in a row.

A rise of 3.94 per cent, calculated to come in just under the four per cent threshold without triggering a referendum, is worth around £9 million to the council's coffers - a significant boost to its spending power.

Bosses insist the move is in response to huge demographic pressures which means around £25 million needs to be saved every year between now and 2020.

The leadership has also pointed to giving taxpayers three years' worth of freezes in 2011, 2012 and 2013 before the rates started to creep up.

The tax rise proposal will be discussed by the Conservative cabinet next Thursday before going out for public consultation ahead of a February vote.

Councillor Adrian Hardman, the leader, said: "The council is spending £1m every day to deliver excellent services to its residents and ensure we have a thriving, vibrant local economy.

"However we also need to care for those who need it.

"This proposed increase amounts to less than £1 per week for most households.

"It will provide essential support to Worcestershire's most vulnerable people.

"We very carefully consider any increases, but recognise that with more children coming into care and more elderly and frail people living in the county than ever before, this extra funding is essential."

He added the 3.94 per cent figure was subject to some "wriggle room" if this month's Government grant settlement comes in better than expected.

County Hall controls 72 per cent of the council tax bill, meaning the end rates will be influenced by what the district and borough councils, fire and police services decide for their small portions.