PEOPLE in Wiltshire are facing a ten per cent council tax rise and cuts in services next year after the county council was given a smaller than average increase in Government money.

The Conservative-controlled county council will receive just over £192million, an increase of 5.4 per cent on this year but below the national average rise of 7.4 per cent.

County council leader Peter Chalke said: "We could be talking about an increase in council tax of ten per cent as the shortfall in money we will have to find is between £4 and £5million.

"We will perhaps have to make reductions in services also. But, particularly in Social Services, I don't think we can make reductions in most areas because we could be open to legal challenge as we have a duty to provide services."

Coun Chalke said the settlement, announced on Tuesday, flew in the face of the campaigning done in Wiltshire for fairer funding.

He said: "It shows yet again that rural Wiltshire has lost out, getting way below the average increase."

Councils have six weeks to make representations to the Government for more funding.