WYCHAVON residents will continue to pay the lowest council tax rates in Worcestershire, it was announced this week.

District councillors agreed to limit the tax increase to 2.5 per cent for the eighth year running at an executive board meeting on Tuesday evening. The proposal will now go to a full council meeting on Tuesday, February 26, for final approval.

Leader of the council Paul Middlebrough was pleased to be able to keep the increase low and announced a number of exciting' new plans for 2008/09.

He said: "Keeping the council tax increase at 2.5 per cent is significantly below inflation and we plan to keep the increase at the same level for the next five years.

"This makes it the lowest premium in the county and one of the lowest in England. We will be putting in about £40,000 worth of investment into sports coaching, which equates to around 30,000 extra sessions per year.

"We felt this was an important time to encourage sports and give talented individuals more opportunities in the run-up to the Olympics."

Other areas set to benefit from this year's budget are first-time house buyers, with a new scheme giving access to affordable housing.

Flood alleviation schemes have also been arranged to take place in Harvington and North Littleton, Bishampton, Tibberton and Queensmead in Bredon.