COUNCIL taxpayers in County Durham will pay at least £27 more for county council services from April.

The Labour-run authority's cabinet is recommending that the full council approve later this month an inflation-busting 4.6 per cent increase to its share - by far the biggest - of the council tax.

People in band A properties would have to pay an extra £27, taking their contribution to county council revenue to £616.

People in band B, C and D homes would pay an exra £31, £36 and £40, respectively.

The rise is slightly below the Government target of a five per cent maximum and is the same percentage-wise as last year's figure.

On top of the council's share, must be added district council, police, fire and, in some cases, parish council demands.

Leader Ken Manton said: "We knew this year's budget would be difficult, but we have still been able to make some modest investment in key priority areas by identifying savings and redirecting some of our reserves.''

The budget requirement of £507,711,629 for next year includes an additional £10m for schools, a further £6.8m for improvements, including £3.7m for better elderly care, £600,000 extra for recycling and park and rides, and £900,000 for Key Stage 4 pupils, extra help for community associations and secondary school refurbishment and rebuilding.

Coun Manton said the council faced pressure from rising costs, increased statutory requirements, high demand or increased public expectation.

He said he hoped people would accept the council has done a "good job'' in balancing the demands on its service and the amount it asked people to pay.

Independent councillor for Weardale John Shuttleworth said: "Inflation is about 2.5 per cent, but this increase is nearly double that.

"I blame the Government for pushing money to councils in the South. It is a constant stealth tax."