MORE than 22,000 families across Worcestershire could be stung by shock tax credit cuts - leading to a growing backlash to scrap the changes.

New analysis has revealed how up to 22,300 county householders with 41,500 children face being part of Chancellor George Osborne's controversial welfare reforms which are set to hit low-paid workers in the pocket.

In recent days a growing rebellion has spread among many MPs over cuts to the benefits, which will see the average low-paid family lose £1,300 a year from next April.

It has now emerged that 1,183 desperate people in Worcestershire, covering every single constituency, have signed a petition urging the Government to think again.

The key changes include slashing in half the amount people can earn before working tax credits reduce from £6,420 to £3,850 - and for child tax credit, families will only be able to claim it for two children from April 2017.

The flat £545 'family element' paid before the amount for each child is calculated will also be removed completely.

Mr Osborne has also sped up the rate at which available tax credits reduce when claimants earn more than the threshold - up from 41 per cent to 48 per cent.

Parents in Worcester say they are desperately concerned about the changes, with letters due to be sent out before Christmas to three million people to let them know how much they are losing.

City mum Mandy Anderson, 50, of High Road, Tunnel Hill, works as a cleaner at a cinema and lives with husband Carl, 48, a security worker at Hartlebury Industrial Estate.

The duo are parents to only-son Ross, 14, and get both child tax credit and working tax credits to help them get by.

She said: "Don't get me wrong, both of us have worked all our lives and we never expect handouts, but the tax credits have been very helpful to us.

"Looking back at my mum and dad's generation, they never had what we got.

"But my husband is on the minimum wage and works 60 hours a week - I wouldn't be against cutting tax credits if the minimum wage was £9 now, but it isn't.

"2019 or 2020 is an awfully long way off. People around here aren't on fair, decent rates like in London.

"People still need this."

Mr Osborne says the move will save £4.4 billion to the taxpayer and will be offset by the end of the parliament due to tax and benefit changes, including the £9 National Living Wage.

But there is the possibility of defeat in the House of Lords on Monday, which would force The Treasury to take the changes back to MPs, many of whom are sceptical.

Some Tory MPs have already urged him to change tack in next month's spending review amid concern it is going too far, too soon.

Councillor Adrian Gregson, who leads Worcester Labour Party, said: "I don't know anybody who can afford to lose £1,000 a year.

"It demonstrates the vast gulf between the Conservatives and everyday people."

Former Worcester Labour MP Mike Foster said: "MPs like Robin Walker could stop these changes going ahead.

"Government whips will be ringing round MPs in marginal seats like Worcester seeking views. Privately, Robin could express his unhappiness.

"If he did, with a Government majority of only 12, it wouldn’t take many others to follow suit and the Chancellor would be forced to compromise or even scrap these unfair proposals.

"If he doesn’t, with this number of families affected, Robin’s majority starts to look a little less comfortable."

Rebecca Falcon, from campaign group 38 Degrees, who organised the petition, said: "The plans will simply punish people in Worcestershire on low wages who work hard, but still don’t have enough to make ends meet.

"It will push many working families to breaking point."

But Worcester MP Robin Walker said: "I have written to George to say I fundamentally, absolutely support tax credit reforms because in the long run we've got to carry on addressing wages and making sure they rise.

"Tax credits have not done what they are supposed to do.

"It started from £1 billion towards helping the lowest paid to £60 billion over the Labour years, to become a subsidy for employers to pay people less money.

"We need to carry on raising the tax threshold and focus on increasing wages, which is what the Government is doing."

The Treasury says the "fair and necessary" reforms will take tax credit spending back only to 2008 levels, with most working households better off once all welfare reforms have come into force by 2017.

Four-and-a-half million people currently get tax credits with an average claim of £6,340 a year.

The number of families with children getting the tax credits include 4,200 in Worcester, 2,900 in West Worcestershire, 3,500 in Mid-Worcestershire and 4,400 in the Wyre Forest.

There are also 2,900 in Bromsgrove and 4,400 in Redditch, according to a House of Commons research paper.

Chief secretary to the Treasury Greg Hands said: "Labour has opposed every single saving we’ve made in a welfare budget they let spiral completely out of control."

The Treasury has cited data showing how tax credit spending would have hit £40 billion by 2016-17 prior to the reforms made since Labour left office.

It is now expected to be £25.3 billion. Mr Hands said the saving is the equivalent to £500 for every taxpayer.