Some lower ranks will receive 3.7%, it was announced as this year's pay deals for public workers were unveiled.

Most teachers will get a 2.9% pay rise, with senior civil servants receiving an average 3% rise and judges 2.75%,

PAY RISES

Teachers: 2.9% Armed forces: 3.2%, with 3.7% for lower ranks MPs: 2.25% Senior civil servants: 2.25% Judges: 2.75%

The news came as it was announced on Friday that Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine of Lairg, has been awarded a 12.6% pay rise of �22,000.

Other MPs and ministers, whose pay is linked to the senior civil service, will see their pay rise by 2.25% from April.

With Chancellor Gordon Brown stressing the need for tight discipline in pay settlements, Downing Street called the public sector rises "firm but fair".

But the teachers' pay rise, which is in line with inflation, has not satisfied trade unions who had predicted anger over anything short of their 10% demands.

London premiums

Senior civil servants are also disgruntled about their pay rises, and the awards for troops being sent to possible war also face criticism from some quarters.

Lord Irvine's pay will now reach �202,736 from 1 April this year - compared in cash terms to the �13,045 a lowest rank Army private can expect after the salary rise.

The public sector awards follow recommendations from independent pay bodies.

Education Secretary Charles Clarke endorsed the recommended rise for teachers, saying it would help deal with teacher workload.

In inner London, teachers will get a minimum 4% pay rise.

Experienced teachers have been singled out for special awards.

The inner London performance "threshold" payment is set almost to double from �2,148 to �4,002.

It is a measure of the contempt for teachers that they should impose what is basically a pay freeze by limiting it to the rate of inflation Doug McAvoy NUT

Teachers' award London deal Angry reaction

Mr Clarke said: "It will help schools begin to address workload issues, which teachers consistently rate higher than pay as a priority to be tackled."

The announcements come at a sensitive time amid efforts to resolve the ongoing pay dispute in the fire service.

Firefighters had originally demanded a 40% pay rise, but there are hopes negotiations due to start next week could result in a 16% increase in pay.

Warning

The promise of extra money in the public services has raised expectations among many workers.

But the government wants to ensure most of the new investment goes into improving services not boosting pay packets.

In a speech on Friday in Wolverhampton, Mr Brown said: "Just as we must have discipline on pay in the private sector, there must be continued and long-term discipline in the decisions - as today - on public sector pay.

"And as we look forward to the conclusion of other pay negotiations, let us remind ourselves that every pay settlement must be linked to productivity so that investment in our public services is matched by reform."

Anger

The National Union of Teachers is accusing the government of treating teachers with contempt.

NUT general secretary Doug McAvoy said: "Freezing teachers' pay will do nothing to retain teachers.

"They will be angry that their pay is frozen so that more support staff can be employed. Teachers are paying for the agreement on remodelling school staffing."

Disquiet from senior civil servants was voiced by Jonathan Baume, general secretary of the First Division Association, who called their rise inadequate.

Mr Baume said: "With pay ranges increased by only 2.25%, many members will see no real pay increase as a result of this award and some a pay cut.

"The government expects senior civil servants to lead and deliver major reform not only in the civil service but also in the wider public sector, and these awards provide little financial incentive."

Troops worries

Before the pay announcements, Jim Knight, a Labour MP on the Commons defence select committee, stressed soldiers were putting their lives on the line.

That meant they should expect better pay than the �13,000 starting salary on which the lower ranks began, argued Mr Knight.

Ministers are keen to end the annual pay round, preferring deals which are spread over two or three years.

Firefighters and their employers are expected to re-start negotiations on Monday after a bitter campaign of industrial action.

If a deal involving changes to working practices can be struck, it might mean rises of up to 16%.