CAMPAIGNERS fighting against plans for an incinerator for the two counties claim the set-up costs could rocket by another £46 million.

Independent assessors have published information revealing the plant in Hartlebury could cost at least £166 million.

The figure has been rejected by Worcestershire County Council, which says it is confident an estimate of £120 million will prove accurate.

Entec UK, an environmental consultancy, was tasked with drafting details on the cost for building the huge facility.

Documents supplied to County Hall, unearthed after a request under the Freedom of Information Act, says: “The capital cost for a facility of this size is estimated to be in the order of £166 million.”

It also goes on to say how the estimate could rise another 30 to 50 per cent on top of that.

The EnviRecover plant will burn 200,000 tonnes of rubbish from the two counties and is set to start in 2015.