THE county is expected to receive around £4 million extra next year after its bid to join a business rates pilot scheme was approved by the government.

The pilot scheme means more money from business rates gathered in Worcestershire would stay in the county.

It would mean the six councils in Worcestershire could keep 75 per cent of the business rates it gathers as a way of seeing whether it encourages local growth.

Currently, local authorities keep 50 per cent of business rates.

Councillor Simon Geraghty, leader of Worcestershire County Council, said he would work with the county's district councils to put the money towards social care.

He said: "This announcement is really good news.

"It will mean that more of the business rates that we collect in Worcestershire will stay in Worcestershire for our residents.

"These are challenging financial times for all councils who have responsibility for caring for the most vulnerable in our society and working with our district council colleagues we will now be able to invest millions of pounds more into social care.

"We plan to invest this additional money into limiting increases in social care costs in Worcestershire.

"It will help us to build stronger connected communities that foster a responsibility to the most vulnerable in our society."

Worcestershire County Council is one of 15 authorities across the country selected for the pilot scheme.

The county's successful bid was announced as part of the draft local government finance settlement for the next year by Communities Secretary James Brokenshire MP.

At the same time as Mr Brokenshire's announcement, the county council's cabinet approved a draft budget that would raise council tax by almost four per cent - including one per cent ring-fenced for adult social - next year to pay for the increasing cost of social care.

In its draft budget, the county council also said it would spend almost £22 million more on social care next year.

The increased spending comes after almost £18 million extra was spent on caring for the county's most vulnerable adults and children next year.