COUNTY residents are holding their breath for huge council tax bills this April, after Worcestershire County Council unanimously backed an increase of almost 13 per cent.

Precepts from the police, fire service, city council and county council, which make up the final total, are gradually finalised and it looks as though Worcester householders in Band D properties - the average in the banding system - will have to find at least an extra £120.

The county council's budget gives a £4m increase for social services, to improve services for the elderly, and extra money for improvements to the county's road, library services and schools.

At a meeting of the full council at County Hall the Tory administration blamed a poor central government grant settlement for the double-figures tax hike of 12.97 per cent.

This was the first year of a new funding formula.

Council leader George Lord said shire counties throughout the country were facing similar pressures and many had decided to increase their precept by as much as 20 per cent.

Despite unanimous support for the budget, some councillors raised concerns about how people on fixed incomes, such as pensioners, would afford the 13 per cent rise.

Shocked

Labour councillor Richard Udall called on the council to launch a campaign to ensure that people were claiming the council tax relief they were entitled to.

"I am shocked by the number of people who are not claiming council tax benefits," he said. "We need some sort of campaign to encourage people to take them up."

Coun Fran Oborski said many owner-occupier pensioners in particular were too proud to take up the benefits.

"They believe they should stand on their own two feet.

"A campaign should point out to these people that this is not charity, it is a right, and they should be claiming it," she said.

Dr Lord agreed to discuss the idea of a benefits campaign with the district councils.

He urged members to support the budget.

"We have tremendous pressures on this council but we have to look after people, we have to support those in need," he said.

"This is a rational and realistic budget and I believe it is right for the people of Worcestershire."