IN THE wake of news that tax bills for Vale residents are to rise by 7.8 per cent, pensioners especially are feeling the pinch.

At nearly two per cent more than the average six per cent increase nationally, the rise has provoked widespread discontent, particularly among senior citizens. Wychavon's efforts to keep its part of the bill to 2.5 per cent meant that pensioners were hit by a double whammy of increased town centre parking charges and the abolition of travel tokens for the majority of over the 60s.

Karen Redpath, aged 69 of Evesham said: "As far as I know my husband's pension will be going up about £11 a month and council tax will be going up about £5.50 a month. But the loss of the travel tokens and increased parking charges will leave us about £5 short, so our budget will just about break even."

Mrs Redpath's husband Gordon, 75 added: "The changes do not give us much leeway so we may be going out a bit less and not coming into the town centre as much."

The increases will also have a negative effect on fellow Evesham pensioner Jean Blomfield. The 72-year-old said: "I have got a small pension of my own but council tax goes up all the time and pensions do not so it just gets worse. I shall certainly not be buying many clothes or doing much in the way of holidays now."

Badsey-based Terry Stafford, aged 77 added: "My wife and I will be facing an increase of around £65 but I don't yet know what the increase of our combined state pensions will be. One thing is certain - a big bite will be taken out of it by the insatiable appetite of the council tax monster."

Local government minister Nick Raynsford wants council tax reforms. "This is a notoriously complex field and over-hasty attempts to reform, sadly, have produced really disastrous consequences, " he said.

The Government is encouraging OAPs to claim help in paying council tax, with an estimated four out of 10 missing out on benefits.