A plan to give hundreds of thousands of pounds to Essex’s most needy residents has been welcomed.

Tendring Council chairman Roy Smith gave the thumbs-up to County Hall’s £3 million bid to help over-80s and young families through the credit crunch.

Essex County Council’s cabinet agreed to go ahead with plans to give a £100 council tax rebate to about 30,000 low-income households.

Under the plan, the applicant must be 80 or over, as of October 31, 2008, or the parent or guardian of a child under 16, as of October 31, 2008, who is living at the same address to be eligible.

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