A TAX rise of almost five per cent is likely for council taxpayers in Warrington from April.

Members of the executive are expected to agree the increase, which will cost an average of £50 a year, when they met tonight.

The hike has been proposed to help fill a budget blackhole at the Town Hall.

Council bosses say the rise was needed because of the shortfall in money from Government and the £13million extra needed to maintain current services.

Leader of the council, Clr Ian Marks (LD), said the plans also include five key proposals for the next 12 months.

l Introducing a new kerbside recycling service l Bringing in a fund to "improve the look of the borough"

l Setting up a neighbourhood fund l And strengthening licensing enforcement to reduce anti-social behaviour The budget also includes cuts of more than £7million for the next 12 months.

Clr Marks said: "Even with these challenging savings, we need to increase council tax by 4.7 per cent next year to fund our current costs and deliver the improvements you told us we need to make.

"This increase is lower than last year's five per cent increase and the 4.85 per cent increase we consulted on but is still higher than we would like and is a result of the disappointing two per cent funding increase we have received from central Government."

The rise would equate to 92p each week and £47.88 for the average, band D council taxpayer.