WE are incensed to discover that Herefordshire has the second highest percentage increase in Council Tax in the whole country! How can this be justified? It is the duty of elected councillors to manage the finances efficiently, which certainly does not appear to be the case.

We should not accept this extortionate rise without a protest and we intend to pay only the amount of last year's charge, plus 3 per cent (which is above the annual rate of inflation), to demonstrate our dissatisfaction, and suggest that everyone in agreement with the above sentiments, does the same.

J D Blandford, E E Evans and J Chapman, Much Marcle.