WORCESTERSHIRE'S cash-strapped schools will get an extra £14.3m from the Government next year.

The 6.4 per cent increase was one of the biggest in England - but county council chiefs are warning the boost for education could harm other services.

Council tax bills are expected to go up by at least six per cent, taking the 2004/5 bill for a band D property to £1,155.

City Labour MP Mike Foster celebrated the 2004/5 settlement. "The devil is always in the detail, but you can't argue with numbers that show a £14.3m boost to education spending and another substantial increase in grant," he said.

"Not only is this a massive boost to school budgets, because we are insisting the increase goes direct to schools, but for the second year running, the gap between Worcestershire and comparable counties school funding has narrowed again."

However, Mid-Worcestershire Tory MP Peter Luff was less enthusiastic. "This is certainly not a disaster - but it really only means the gap between ourselves and other councils does not get any bigger. It does not really start to remedy the years of injustice."

The education increase was part of a 5.9 per cent hike - the 10th biggest of the 34 shire authorities in England - in the total Government grant paid to Worcestershire County Council, pushing it to £282.1m.

Worcestershire County Council's cabinet member for resources, Adrian Hardman, was pleased for schools, but he warned budgets in other areas may be cut.

"I'm very pleased with the grant in certain directions. I'm pleased in particular for schools, but our total grant increase is £15.68m and that puts pressure on social services.

"We have to put money into that so I expect budgets for roads maintenance, libraries and e-government will fall. These things are important but not absolutely crucial services whereas care for the elderly and children's services are.

"One thing I'm pretty sure of is that the campaign we put in on the education appears to be paying fruit. Hats off to the parents and governors but we've got to be prepared to stick at it to consolidate our position."

He said he expected council tax bills to go up by at least six per cent, meaning next year's average bill would come to £1,155. The council will hold its first meeting to discuss the levy on December 19.

Grants to the West Mercia Police Authority went up by 3.3 per cent to £107.7m while the Hereford and Worcester Combined Fire Authority received a 5 per cent increase.