TRAFFORD residents' council tax bills will go up by almost five per cent this year and also in 2018-19, as the cash-strapped council tackles a multi-million pound funding gap.

Councillors approved a 4.99 per cent hike that is made up of a 1.99 per cent general rise and three per cent for adult social care funding.

It was approved at a budget meeting last night, when finance bosses revealed the financial situation was even worse than that previously forecast three months ago.

They say savings of more than £47m have to be made over the next three years, with more than £25m needed this year alone.

Trafford has already made savings of more than £96m since 2010.

The ruling Conservative group says that will be done through measures including service delivery savings, income generation and the use of reserves.

The increase in council tax will bring in an extra £4.2m.

For a band D property, this will mean an increase of £1.08 per week, or £56.25 per year.

The bill for each band will be: Band A - £937.21; B - £1,093.41; C - £1,249.62; D - £1,405.83; E - £1,718.24; F - £2,030.64; G - £2,343.04; H - £2,811.66.

Cllr Patrick Myers, the executive member for finance, said: "Trafford currently has the lowest council tax in the North West and also has the lowest council tax of any metropolitan district in England."

He added that "the size of the challenge over the following two years remains significant. For that reason the budget process for 2018/19 will commence immediately such that sufficient time is afforded to consider all options at an early stage."