AN EXTRA £1m spending for schools in Middlesbrough was confirmed at a meeting of the Borough Council's cabinet yesterday.

In addition to the extra money for education, a rise in council tax has been approved which will cost most households less than 50p a week.

Middlesbrough's own council tax will go up by 4.3 per cent with the police authority's six per cent taking the total increase to 4.5 per cent.

As most houses in the borough fall into Band A, that will mean an annual increase of £25.13p - which works out at 48p per week.

Councillor Sylvia Connolly, deputy leader of the council, forecast continuing good news for council tax payers when the borough's partnership with a support services company, Hyder, goes on stream in April.

She said: "The partnership will make our services more modern and accessible, and produce substantial savings year-on-year.

"It will provide a basis for sustaining improvement and financial stability in the long term.

"The council has had to take hard decisions but the benefits are now accruing for local people."