HOME care costs for vulnerable and elderly people will rise sharply from next month.

Thurrock councillors have given the go-ahead for the increases, which mean day care in Thurrock will rise from £1 to £7.77 in October and eventually reach £21.20 by April 2009.

Transport charges will be up from 25p to 78p per mile before rising to £1.85 in April 2009.

Councillors at the overview and scrutiny committee were told if the increased charges were not implemented the council tax could rise by one per cent.

Amanda Arnold, portfolio holder for adult care, said the alternative would be looking at other cost savings.

She said: "We will keep charges as low as possible and the charges will be means-tested and if necessary people will be given a benefits cheque.

"We have to consider the negative effect on the council if we have to seek funding for social care by other means.

"This might mean lights going off at night or fortnightly bin collections, for example, if we had to divert council tax into social care."

The council will now meet people who use the services to explain the new prices.

The increases, by the Conservative-led council, have been criticised by members of the opposition. Labour leader, councillor John Kent, said: "These draconian increases will have a huge impact on the very weakest and most vulnerable people in our community.

"I simply do not know how the Conservatives can possibly defend these outrageous increases."

The price for day care will rise from £1 to £7.77 from October 2007 then rising to £14.54 in April 2008 and to £21.20 by April 2009.

The Home Care Rate will go up from £9 to £10.63 per hour from October 2007; rising to £12.26 from April 2008 and to £13.90 by April 2009; Transport charges up from £0.25 to £0.78 from October 2007, rising to £1.30 in April 2008 and to £1.85 by April 2009.