A £400,000 boost is being handed to small traders across Worcester to help offset a controversial Government-backed tax shake-up.

The cash boost will see the likes of pub landlords, cafe owners and retailers handed cash sweeteners to avoid a damaging fall out from the business rate changes.

Before the General Election, ministers approved a long-awaited new rates system which kicked in during April.

But the changes came under fire from the likes of shopping guru Mary Portas and the Federation of Small Businesses, which said it would "kill" the High Street.

In his pre-election Budget Chancellor Philip Hammond then confirmed most areas of the country would get additional grants to help appease traders.

The Worcester News can reveal how the city's allocation is £409,000, which will be earmarked towards traders in the most need.

A new report by the city council says the handouts are expected to be front-loaded, with £238,000 available for 2017/18.

The fund will then reduce to £116,000 the following year, £48,000 in 2019/20 and £7,000 in 2020/21.

It says councillors will aim to support those "most affected by the revaluation", to help avoid any of them going bust.

The council's help is expected to be offered to only those traders facing tax hikes in excess of £250.

The finer details of it will be hammered out over the coming months after it was given approval by the council's new-look policy and resources committee.

Green Councillor Louis Stephen, who chairs the committee, said: "It is critical that these changes do not kill off our businesses.

"When you do anything like this there will always be winners and losers, but our scheme has got to be done fairly.

"The details of it will be looked at very carefully, and it will be done in conjunction with all the group leaders to ensure it's properly thought through."

The Government has said the rates, which are calculated on the rental value of commercial property, will decrease for many businesses due to a fall in property values, and that pubs have been protected by a cap.

But critics say some traders have been slapped with tax hikes of up to 245 per cent, with around a third of them paying more.

The transitional relief packages are worth £3.6 billion nationwide.