WORCESTER City Council cabinet has approved the emergency package of cost-cutting measures to prevent an overspend of more than £400,000.

At last night's meeting, Labour and Tory councillors both lashed out, blaming each other for the current financial problems.

First, Councillor Geoff Williams, chairman of the corporate services policy and review committee, launched a blistering attack on the Tory administration.

"As far as I understand, when I came to the council, the Labour administration did not overspend," he said.

"It seems to me, in the space of 18 months, this administration has blown a substantial hole in the budget and it is going to be bigger next year."

Coun Williams criticised cabinet members for not asking more questions about the overspend.

"If it was the Labour party in charge, you'd be making a real noise about this, but suddenly most of your colleagues have lost their tongues," he said.

Coun Francis Lankester hit back at Coun Williams/ n Continued on P29