Council tax payers in Cornwall face a rise of 9.9% in the bill they pay the county council from April.

The rise is among the lowest in England and councillors have warned there will be cuts in services.

The council tax will give the authority a budget of �438m.

The average Band D home owner will have to pay �781 a year, which is �1.35 extra a week.

Charges for the police, parishes and districts will be imposed on top of this figure.

Pensioners warning

Councillors were concerned that people in a low-wage economy such as Cornwall, could not afford a steep pay rise.

Social services will get extra money, but there will not be enough to keep other departments running at their present levels.

Councillor Pippa Englefield said: "We have worked well on a tiny budget and we should go on with that until Objective One (EU grants scheme) has really swung in, and people are earning more money."

Paul Brinsley chief executive of Age Concern said he wanted to see more help from central government for vulnerable people, particularly the elderly.

He said: "Pensions have not kept pace with inflation, so this rise is going to be hard."