HARD-PRESSED Droitwich Spa schools are in-line for a cash boost -- but town MP Peter Luff has yet to celebrate.

Worcestershire County Council has scooped an extra £12.3m to spend on schools next year -- a 6.1 per cent budget increase.

But the rise, revealed last week, is below the average 6.5 per cent for other shire counties.

In a response to a question posed by Tory MP Mr Luff, the Secretary of State for local government, Stephen Byers, said Worcestershire council taxpayers can expect an increase of 6.5 per cent -- although a final figure will not be confirmed until January.

A percentage of the budget is spent on education -- which the Government says will increase by 6.1 per cent.

But Mr Luff said the real increase was only 5.4 per cent after allowance is made for the special £1.35m paid to county schools this year.

Mr Luff said: "The boost isn't too bad -- but any increase in pupil numbers or teachers' pay could eat away at the sum very quickly.

"The Government has ignored Worcestershire's call for fairer funding.

"Our county council now faces a difficult decision -- should it put up council tax by more than eight or nine per cent to put right this injustice."

Worcestershire schools are at the bottom of the funding league table -- being place 30th out of 34 counties.

County council leader Dr George Lord (Con, Alvechurch) says schools will now be £2.5m worse off.

The council's Labour group leader, Cllr Peter Pinfield, said: "The Government has met us halfway.

"It's not a bad settlement and will help us make our way up the league table ladder.

"However, I don't believe we should stop lobbying."