COUNCIL tax rises this year will be the lowest in more than a decade.

But sceptics last night branded the small increases - kept low after a Government hand-out two months ago - as a pre-election sweetener.

Householders in the North-East and North Yorkshire will face an average increase of 4.5 per cent this year.

A survey by The Northern Echo shows the annual charge for an average Band D house across the region is set to rise by £53 to just over £1,233 - a little over £1 a week.

The smaller rise is due to extra money from the Government, which is estimated to have shaved about three per cent off this year's bills, coupled with threats of capping.

But local government leaders fear the cash injection is a one-off fix for election year.

And they warned last night that unless the hand-outs are repeated next year, higher council tax rises will follow.

The Northern Echo survey was carried out after figures from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy showed the average increase in England and Wales would be four per cent.

The Tories said Labour had already "punished" people with large council tax rises, saying it was one of 66 stealth taxes they had introduced.

Shadow Secretary of State for Local Government Caroline Spelman said: "There can be no doubt they will continue to drive up council tax bills in any third term."

The Local Government Association warned that the Treasury needs to find £1.5bn in Gordon Brown's forthcoming Budget to replace December's "one-off" cash injection to keep council tax down.

Chairman Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart said that unless help continues, next year will see a massive hike in bills.

The figures - which do not include precepts from police forces and fire brigades - come a few weeks before houses in England are due to be re-valued for tax purposes.

It is feared this will see many homes move to a higher tax band, with householders facing higher bills in 2007.