Bromley residents could be left to foot a bill for thousands of pounds thanks to a monumental Government mistake.

Bromley taxpayers face losing out because bungling bureaucrats at the Department for Skills and Education managed to get their Bs mixed up when working out this year's grants for local authorities.

Bromley lost out due to an error which saw Bromley's money allocated to Buckinghamshire and Bristol's to Bromley - a mistake which could cost the borough £163,000.

The mistake comes at a time when the borough's services are being cut and there are fears of a hike in council tax rates.

The problem emerged in the House of Commons on February 2, when Beckenham MP Jacqui Lait called on local government minister Nick Raynsford to sort the mess out.

Mr Raynsford admitted there are significant sums of money at stake and promised to look into it but this may take up to two years and, if not solved by then, Bromley may never see the money.

Council leader Councillor Stephen Carr said: "I am utterly appalled such incompetence can be allowed to deprive Bromley of more than £160,000 when we are faced with so many difficult decisions around next year's budget.

"This is money which should be spent in the borough.

"The error just compounds the problems caused by the totally inadequate grant settlement recently announced by the Government.

"I will be seeking a correction at the earliest opportunity."

Mrs Lait said: "This is typical sloppy work by the Government and it is right for Bromley council tax payers it should be corrected. I'll keep the minister to his promise.

"Bromley consistently receives a poor settlement from this Government, barely in line with inflation, and it's our council tax payers who have to pick up the tab.

"Thanks to the tight fist of centralising Labour government, our residents will be picking up an even bigger tab this year."

A spokesman for Mr Raynsford's office said: "It is being looked into and there may or may not be an amending report, depending on the outcome."

WHAT THE MISSING CASH COULD BUY

WHAT Bromley Council could have done with the lost £163,000 it has lost due to the error:

  • Pay for eight newly-qualified teachers for a whole year
  • Cover most of the £200,000 council chiefs plan to slash from grants to voluntary bodies such as Community Links and Bromley Welcare next year
  • Help keep the Age Concern Rachel Notley Day Centre in Beckenham, which closed in October, open for a further two years
  • Employ a social services care manager to work with adults with learning disabilities for up to six years
  • Pay for some extravagant Christmas lights for Penge to make up for years of perceived neglect
  • Buy around 271,186 packets of chocolate Hobnobs for peckish councillors