COMMUTERS in Worcestershire are being short-changed by the Government, official figures have revealed.

The data shows council bosses are getting less transport funding than other authorities.

The Department for Transport has awarded Worcestershire County Council £83.3m for roads, buses and trains during the last eight years - just £18.88 per resident per year.

Meanwhile, rural Shropshire County Council got £102.9m from the Government since 1998-99 - which works out at £44.75 per person a year.

The revelation comes after the council announced in January it was considering cuts to the roads budget to make up a £3.5m budget deficit.

Liberal Democrats leader Councillor Tom Wells was angered by the latest news. He said: "Once again, Worcestershire is being discriminated against by the Government.

"There is a desperate need for investment for buses and rail systems in the county to provide a real alternative to the car. At the moment, we are not receiving adequate funding to do this, while other counties are."

Conservative councillor John Smith, cabinet member for the environment, said: "We were again very disappointed with the amount of money we have been allocated this year, and we would wholeheartedly support any action that would help us receive a fairer settlement from central Government in the future."

Coun John Buckley, Labour leader for the county, urged caution before making comparisons between councils.

He said: "I have not seen the figures yet, but there are different ways of measuring these things.

"You have to take into account the population, economic success and employment rates and so on.

"If this £83m figure is being compared to a county similar to ours, then something does need to be done, but if it is a comparison with a bigger area with more unemployment, for example, then that is not fair.

"As chairman of the council's scrutiny committee, I have working particularly hard on ways to increase funding for the highways."