FAMILIES in Worcester have reacted with dismay at the news they face a council tax increase of 3.8 per cent, or £44 for the average household.

The final rise in bills was confirmed last night after the city council approved a 2.5 per cent increase in its demand.

Ben and Jo Knight, both aged 30, face paying £1,474.32 for their Band E property in Collings Avenue, which falls in the Warndon Parish.

The couple, pictured below, who have a six-month-old daughter called Sophie, were disappointed that they will have pay £50 more when bills are sent in April.

"An increase is still an increase - are services going to improve in line with what we are paying? It's got out of hand. There's always an increase but I never see the justification," said Mr Knight, a telecommunications sales manager.

He questioned whether the extra funding to tackle rubbish was going into the right area.

"I would probably put it into recycling. When we compare it to other towns and cities with boxes and different collections, we just have a couple of different coloured bags."

Samantha Dubique, aged 20, rents her own home in Northleach Close, Blackpole. As she lives alone in the Band A property, she receives a 25 per cent discount but was "outraged" at paying £598, up £19.

"I don't even get my bin bags and buy my own but sometimes they don't pick them up. I thought council tax went towards things like that and I'm struggling to see why I should pay more," the 20-year-old said.

Miss Dubique, an events co-ordinator at the Chamber of Commerce, supported the halving of the Mayor of Worcester's allowance, with a £4,000 cut for the banquet.

"As a local resident I don't see what the mayor does apart from showing up at important events. I don't see why we should have to pay towards him having a nice evening," she said.

Budget break-down

EFFORTS to tackle litter problems in Worcester will be strengthened, city councillors promised as their budget was approved.

Other elements of the £17.8m budget - which makes a total of £800,000 savings - include removing free public toilets, increasing cremation charges by £23 and improving sports centres.

But opposition councillors warned the leading Conservative group's plans would harm the city's poorest residents.

Coun Paul Denham said it would be impossible for residents to run community centres as businesses, following £113,000 cutbacks.

Liberal Democrat group leader Coun Sue Askin attacked the axing of an officer promoting green space and cuts for museums.

Council leader Coun Stephen Inman welcomed a budget "that creates stability this council hasn't known for a decade".