THE leader of Hampshire county council is warning council tax payers could face a rise of between eight and nine per cent next April - about four times the rate of inflation.

Ken Thornber says the latest government funding settlement has done little to address Hampshire's problems and leaves a considerable amount of spending to be met by the council tax payer.

Mr Thornber, said: "Despite authorities up and down the country lobbying for extra money to meet the needs of the frail and vulnerable in our society, yet again there is no recognition of increased demands and continued government underfunding of social services.

"The people of Hampshire have made clear that their priorities are our core services such as schools, social services and roads.

"I am determined therefore to do everything I can to ensure these key areas continue to be properly funded."

The council tax figure will be set by district and borough councils in February but it is the county council which spends 80 per cent of the money and has by far the biggest influence on the charge.

A similar picture has appeared in Wiltshire where leader Peter Chalke says the county is now the second lowest funded in England and has been given only an extra 5.4 per cent by the government compared to 7.4 per cent across the country as a whole. "It shows yet again that rural Wiltshire has lost out, getting way below the average increase," he said.