GOVERNMENT Ministers are moving to stem a taxpayers' revolt by warning 31 councils planning "excessive increases" in council tax, that they will be capped if they do so.

Worcestershire County Council is one such council.

Having received a warning letter from Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford, leader of the council Dr George Lord has spoken of the dire consequences of such a cap.

His fears for initiatives to reduce bed-blocking, improve the county's roads, or the loss of 25 social workers' jobs should all be taken very seriously.

There is, however, no simple answer to this problem.

The Government believes sharp rises in recent years mean the council tax has reached its "limit of acceptability".

With an increase in some areas of up to 70 per cent since 1997, it is easy to see why.

The march in London on Saturday by pensioners against the "unfairness" of the tax is just one example of the public's exasperation with the charge.

Yet many of those protesters will be the same people who have been demanding better services - whether its for policing, road improvements or social services.

And those have to be paid for. The question is - who pays and how?

The Government is, we are told, reassessing this very question.

However, in the meantime, Worcestershire people are faced with the prospect of potential cuts in services because of Government-imposed budget constraints.

This issue needs resolving and the sooner the better.