TORY leaders are claiming council tax in some East Lancashire areas could soar by as much as 12 per cent next April.

Tory local government spokesman Sir Norman Fowler, who has analysed of the new Government's figures, warned the combination of district and county council increases could put Burnley and Ribble Valley's Council Tax rate up by 12 per cent.

And Sir Norman says Pendle's rates could rise by nine per cent and Hyndburn's by eight per cent.

But the former minister admitted council tax increases in Blackburn with Darwen and Rossendale were likely to be within the Govern- ment's limit of seven per cent.

Sir Norman said: "The new figures show the full extent of Labour's latest assault on middle Britain.

"The Government claims that next year's council tax increases will not exceed seven per cent, but the truth is that they have opened the way for substantially higher increases right across the country." He said calculations based on the Government's own figures showed that millions of council tax payers faced the prospect of increases of up to 10 per cent - and in some cases even more - if councils spent at the capping limits the Government has set.

"Early reports for across the country show that millions of people can expect substantial tax increases next April," he added.

"The Government has piled new costs on to councils and is forcing council tax payers to foot the bill."

According to the Conservatives' calculations, the 12 per cent rise in Labour-controlled Burnley would put council tax on Band D properties up from £738 this year to £827 next April and in the Ribble Valley from £683 to £766.

Hyndburn's eight per cent increase would see bills go up from £754 to £811 in Band D and the nine per cent increase in Pendle would increase them from £748 to £812.

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