COUNCIL Tax bills are likely to rise by £44 for the average Worcester household after the county council confirmed it will charge 3.9 per cent more to fund its services.

Band D properties will face a charge for £1,196.76 should the city council approve its £137 levy next month - meaning bills will increase by 3.8 per cent overall in Worcester.

Councillors at County Hall yesterday rubberstamped their £482m spending plans after opposing an effort by Liberal Democrats to increase spending on roads and footpaths.

Council leader Coun George Lord said his cabinet had "put delivery of services above everything else" in setting the budget.

"This is realistic, fair and addresses the issues many of us face with day-to-day constituent problems," added Labour group leader Coun Peter Pinfield.

But some Liberal Democrats wanted to see cash earmarked for improvements of County Hall moved to help highways.

"We've always spent too much on County Hall and we've never spent enough on making sure our children and citizens do not fall over," said vice chairman, Coun Diane Rayner.

Cabinet member for finance, Coun Adrian Hardman, said changes to County Hall were part of an overhaul of council offices that would eventually save £1m.

He said spending more on roads from contingency funds "was not reckless but imprudent" and backed the original budget.

The Liberal Democrat motion was defeated by 36 votes to 16 and the budget was then accepted unanimously.