Householders are facing a huge council tax increase this year.

The leader of Worcestershire County Council says a five per cent rise is "pretty much certain" and necessary to make ends meet.

It would mean the average tax bill from the county council would rise by £42.

The massive increase - the maximum any council can levy without being capped by the Government - is to make up for a £3.5m funding gap in the county council's finances.

The increase would see band D property payers paying £899 to the county.

But the blow will be softened for people living in Worcester because the city council said it plans to keep its tax increases down to 2.5 per cent as a result of a generous government grant, as revealed in the Worcester News last month.

While city council tax makes up only 10 per cent of the overall bill, the county council's tax rate makes up 70 per cent.

The county has been awarded £69m from the Government for 2006/07, a figure bosses say is not enough.

They have planned a meeting with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to make a 30-minute presentation on how much money they need to continue to provide the same level of service.

Although the £69m grant is three per cent up on last year, the authority is responsible for health, social care and education, and was counting on a better grant.

County council leader George Lord said: "We are going to make a presentation to ministers to try to get more money from them.

"I doubt we will get any money from them but you never know. Even if we do, council tax will have to go up because we cannot make any more efficiency savings.

"We have started a consultation period with parishes, school governors, local businesses and so on, but it's

pretty much certain we will have to raise council tax by five per cent.

"People will say they can't afford it, and I understand their feelings, but we are so hamstrung by this budget I see no other alternative."

The government grant they received this year was three per cent more than last year - the lowest possible amount.

Council tax bills are made up from the city or district council, the county council, and fire and police.

Worcester City Council has received an extra 4.3 per cent in cash from the Government for 2006/07, in stark contrast to the county council grant.