A report put before members of Northamptonshire County Council forecasts that over the next 13 years the county would need 40 new primary schools, six new secondary schools and between two and four new fire stations to keep pace with the Government's expansion plans.

But concerned members of the scrutiny committee, which discussed the report, said they feared Government cash to back the expansion may not be forthcoming.

Councillor John Bailey (Con, Finedon) warned the county must not accept expansion without the money for extra facilities.

He said: "The Government needs to be told this growth is their project and their desire, not ours.

"And if they're going to fail to provide the necessary money for roads, schools and things, then these houses will not happen, unless they're forced on us."

Government figures show almost 100,000 new houses are due to be built in Northamptonshire between 2001 and 2021.

The increase would see up to 240,000 new people move into the county over the 20-year period.

And the man behind the council's investigation into the expansion plan, Councillor Brian Hoare (Lib Dem, Abington) warned growth rates already seen in the county were nothing compared to what was around the corner.

He said: "We're only just experiencing the start of growth. From 2011 onwards the pace of growth will be 30 per cent higher than the first five years.

"So what we're experiencing today is not what we should anticipate in the future."

He added: "We've been through the easy stage, we are maybe now entering the most difficult stage in terms of demands on the council's services."

Referring to independent research published in 2006, Councillor Hoare also warned that the county could still be on course for a £715 million funding shortfall by 2021 unless Government funding rates were increased.

The issue will be discussed again by the full council later this year.