HUGE increases in council tax bills for most of Lancashire have been rubber stamped at a finance meeting.

Labour bosses at County Hall had sent out warnings about the price hike and have been blaming Blackburn with Darwen's decision to go solo for the huge rises.

Lancashire County Council has also cut almost £22 million from its annual budget with the biggest savings coming from buildings and highways maintenance.

The 14 per cent rise in the county council's share of the tax will see bills in areas including Burnley, Pendle, Hyndburn, Rossendale and the Ribble rise by an average of at least £100.

Increases in Blackburn with Darwen's council tax are likely to be around five per cent compared to a freeze on demands in Blackpool.

Just over £7 million will be cut from highways and building maintenance budgets while money will be made available from county hall cash reserves. Finance chairman Chris Cheetham said: "The decisions made in the budget have been some of the most difficult the county council has had to face for a number of years.

"Although the scale of reductions is thankfully smaller than at any time since I became chair of finance the areas we have had to reduce have been among the most difficult."

Coun Cheetham has warned that the savings could only be made for one year and difficult decisions would have to be made in 12 months time.

He added: "My biggest regret is that the impact of local government reorganisation has had the effect on our finances that we forecast.

"Council tax payers in most of Lancashire are facing a bill of some £13 million for reorganisation. The result is that our council tax rise is some six per cent higher than it would have been had this not happened.

"However, to produce a lower council tax rise would have meant bigger reductions in highways, social services and education."

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