DURHAM County Council says residents can expect a council tax increase of about five per cent in April.

The authority said it was trying to heed Government calls for low single-figure rises.

The county is responsible for services including social services and education.

This financial year, it is spending more than £465m and its demand makes up most of the council tax bill.

Until now, fire brigade spending has been included in its overall funding.

However, from April, the fire authority, which receives £19m from the council, will appear on bills as a separate item, similar to the police, district and parish councils.

The council, which says it is the first in the North-East to give council taxpayers a strong indication of what they will have to pay, outlined its plans to Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford yesterday.

Council leader Councillor Ken Manton said: "During our talks with the minister, we once again pressed for a fundamental change in the way central government funds council services.

"We need a system which is fair and equitable to both the north and south of the country, and which dispenses with the need for so-called council tax discounts, cuts in services or big council tax increases.

"Our target increase of around five per cent for next year shows we have been listening to what the minister says he wants from councils this year."