HALF-price swimming sessions for youngsters are being promised by councillors in Wychavon who will increase Council Tax by 2.5 per cent for the sixth year running.

The district council's executive board has approved spending an extra £1.9m on improving and expanding services.

It means the average Band D household will be asked to contribute £96.38 to the authority - an extra £2.35 compared to last year's demand.

The increase - which should be approved by the whole council on Tuesday, February 22 - will be spent on community neighbourhood wardens, town centre managers and recycling as well as the swimming concessions.

"This will be the sixth year running that the Conservative administration here has held the Council Tax increase to 2.5 per cent and the projected money plan assumes this level of increase for the future," said Coun Clive Holt, responsible for resources.

"This has been achieved without cutting services or damaging reserves or investment income.

"This budget is another step towards achieving the Conservative administration's objectives of 'an efficiently run council providing excellent services without penalising the taxpayer'," said Coun Holt.

Other authorities that have proposed their Council Tax demands include Worcestershire County Council (4.25 per cent rise, £824 for Band D households), Herefordshire and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority (4.9 per cent, £59.26) and Wyre Forest District Council (3.94 per cent, £174.66).

Worcester City Council has pledged to increase its Council Tax by no more than 2.5 per cent above inflation but has yet to confirm a final figure.