A VAST house-building programme is on the cards for Worcestershire after regional representatives accepted they had little power to fight "irresponsible" Government demands.

Angry councillors from Worcester and Wychavon told a meeting of the West Midlands Regional Assembly of their deep concern at the Government's insistence that far more new homes be built across the region over the coming years than has been accepted by local authorities if houses are to be made more affordable.

But assembly members agreed the only realistic option was to work with the Government as it investigates ways to cram in extra houses, in the hope of influencing the final decision.

Advising the assembly was Ron Hilton, chief executive of Staffordshire County Council, who said: "We have to be realistic - the Government is not just another stakeholder in this decision. We recommend you put up a robust response, but work with the Government team to put forward all the arguments we have made and try to influence the decision."

After months of in-depth studies and many long, heated debates, the regional assembly finally agreed last year on what it felt would be the maximum number of new homes the West Midlands can accommodate over the next 20 years.

Its draft regional spatial Strategy makes allowances for building nearly 2,000 new homes in Worcestershire every year up to 2026. This includes 525 new houses in Worcester per year - two-and-a-half times the current rate of construction.

But earlier this month, the Government decided these plans do not go far enough, and announced it will investigate how extra homes can be squeezed in. In addition, the Government is considering siting a new eco-town' in the West Midlands, which would see still thousands more homes built.

Councillor Robert Rowden, representing Worcester, told the assembly: "We have already been accommodating -I think the number we chose was generally seen as the least worst option. But if there is now an additional number of houses, as well as an eco-town, it reaches the point of irresponsibility."

Councillor Judy Pearce, of Wychavon, said: "The problem we have is the affordability of houses, rather than the need for huge numbers to be built. I'm still not convinced that simply building more houses will make them more affordable."

The regional spatial strategy is now out for public consultation - anyone who wishes to comment should visit the assembly's website at www.wmra.gov.uk. The final plan will be decided at a public inquiry in September.