Council tax bills in Kent will rise by about 12.5%, it was announced on Monday.

Kent County Council has said the increase in its share of the tax is needed after cuts in grants from the government.

It means for the first time many homeowners in the county will be paying more than �1,000 in council tax.

The council has also said 300 jobs will be axed with one in four administration staff losing their positions over the next three years.

The increase is necessary if services are not to be cut Sir Sandy Bruce Lockhart, Kent County Council leader

The tax rise and job losses are essential, the council said, so there will be no cuts in front line services.

A total of 6.1% more will be spent on education, 8.9% more on social services and 4.4% more on the upkeep of roads.

Leader of Kent County Council, Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, said: "The increase is necessary if services are not to be cut.

"Our total expenditure is going up by nearly 7%. If you look at education, which is two thirds of our budget, the government is saying to us 'you must give your schools a 6.6% increase' but the government is only giving us 3.2%. Someone has to fill the gap.

"We don't think the whole gap can be filled by the council tax, therefore we are making savings ourselves.

"But the rest of the gap has to be filled by council tax, that's why you see these rises across the south east. We hope ours isn't as high as some."