WARRINGTON will benefit from an extra £2.2 million of Government money next year - but critics warn it is a cynical ploy.

Warrington Borough Council finance chiefs have confirmed they will receive the extra cash from Government to swell next year's budget.

It means next year's council tax rise will now not be as great as it might have been. Council bosses predict the rise will be less than five per cent, which meets Government targets.

Clr John Morris, the council's executive member for finance, said the extra revenue would be welcome and would be the subject of discussion early next week.

He said: "This will now be incorporated into our medium-term financial planning and councillors will be meeting on December 13 to consider the implications for Warrington."

But the town's two opposition parties said that while the money would keep residents' tax bills down this year, it would not help in the long term.

Clr Peter Walker, the council's Lib Dem spokesman on finance, said the council still needed to find several million pounds if services were not to be cut.

He said: "It (the extra money) will not solve the long-term budget problems and the growing black hole in the town's finances"

Clr Ian Marks, the Lib Dem group's leader, said: "Labour at Westminster has no proposals to address the unfair council tax or to return the £26 million they keep from Warrington's business rate."

Clr Keith Bland, the council's Tory group leader, said Warrington Borough Council still needed a fairer share of Government cash.

He said: "I believe that next year we will have a rise way above inflation because this is a one-off payment yet again.

"It is great for the tax payers this year, and I welcome that, but we need a fair share. If it had not been an election year then I am sure we would not have got this money."