WYRE Forest residents have received good and bad news about their potential council tax bills after the Government announced its Revenue Support Grant totals for district and county councils.

Wyre Forest District Council's £7.2 million Revenue Support Grant an increase of 8.6 per cent on last year's total - is one of the biggest rises in the Midlands.

John Campion, the council's cabinet member for finance and corporate affairs, said he expected next year's district council tax rise to be kept in line with inflation.

He explained: "There is no hiding that it is a very good settlement and we are obviously pleased with the amount.

"We expect to see about a three per cent rise in next year's council tax. People have been taxed a lot over recent years and we are committed to keeping council tax low permanently.

"We will be prudent and wise with the money to ensure next year's figure is not just a flash in the pan."

Initiatives earmarked to benefit from the increased district grant include the installation of CCTV cameras in Stourport and Bewdley following the success of the scheme that went live in Kidderminster earlier this year.

Worcestershire County Council chiefs have admitted they might be challenged to find more ways of making savings without reducing service quality after receiving news of the authority's financial assistance package from Westminster.

Its provisional grant of about £69 million for services - excluding education - makes it the second worst funded county council in the country.

Councillor Mike Oborski, who represents Kidderminster's St Chads county council ward, described the county's settlement as "absolutely appalling".

He added: "Even allowing for the good deal which Wyre Forest is getting as a district this is till crazy as the county council is responsible for the three big expensive services - education, social services and highways - all of which are desperately in need of major investment locally."