READERS will be distressed to hear Worcestershire's ruling Liberal/Labour Group voted through a council tax increase of 10 per cent again.

We have heard a lot of pious words from the Labour and Liberal leaders but eventually they joined hands and voted through their joint budget that sees Worcestershire taxpayers having suffered a increased council tax of 42 per cent under their leadership over the past four years.

The electorate will have their say on May 3 and say whether or not they like these year-on-year increases. We believe these unnecessary increases will overwhelmingly rejected.

Only a Conservative-controlled county council in Worcestershire on May 4 can put right the damage this lame duck administration has done.

STEPHEN CLEE, Conservative Worcestershire County Councillor, Bewdley.