ANGRY council tax protesters today took their campaign to the streets of Winchester.

Some 50 people demonstrated outside the Castle before the county council meeting that was today due to set the tax.

They are furious about inflation-busting increases proposed by the county council, Winchester City Council and police and fire authorities.

The total bill this year is due to rise by six per cent - twice the rate of inflation.

The protesters say the year-on-year increases do not take into account people's ability to pay and claim that pensioners are particularly badly hit.

Surrounded by the media, the protesters waved placards and chanted slogans as county councillors arrived for the meeting.

David Chamberlin, 70, a retired manager, of Kestrel Close, Boorley Green, near Botley, said: "The council tax rises have become a joke. We have no political agenda, I'm here as a pensioner to make a protest on behalf of other pensioners and myself."

Bill Welton, 67, a retired international marketing consultant, said: "We are determined to stop this nonsense. There's anger here."

Mr Welton, of Upper Ansty Lane, Alton, said the county council should cut spending this year by £50m.

"If an authority with a budget of £1 billion a year cannot save £50m, or five per cent, it is incompetent."

Mike Crossley, 61, a self- employed auditor, of Four Marks, said: "If the government tried to chop and change income tax like this there would be riots on the streets. People wouldn't put up with it."

The Winchester and Meon Valley Council Tax Action Group are also organising a protest outside the meeting of Winchester City Council tonight. The meeting at the Guildhall is due to put up the city council tax by five per cent.