NORTH Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority has approved a precept rise of 9.85 per cent - nearly half the level fire bosses had sought.

Chief Fire Officer Eric Clark warned that members had built in some risk for the coming year by approving the precept rise.

Fire and rescue service chiefs had been consulting on an 18 per cent precept rise.

The decision means York's total council tax next year will be 9.3 per cent if current plans are approved by members of the full council.

Mr Clark said the possible impact on council tax bills across the county had been considered when setting the precept rise.

He said: "The front-line service will be protected. But let's say there are some serious floods. If that happens we have taken ourselves to a position where we might find that seriously affects us.

"If we need extra funds and they are not there then where do we find them? If it is staffing then community safety is affected, but members have taken a decision to square a circle."

Council tax is set to rise by another inflation-busting seven per cent on average across England, a national newspaper survey revealed today. That is three times the Government's preferred measure for the rising cost of living and breaks ministers' five per cent capping limit.

Pensioners have already demonstrated and Help the Aged said further rises on top of last year's 13 per cent hike would be a "red rag to a bull".

Spokeswoman Tessa Harding told the paper: "Most older people are on fixed incomes. They cannot afford to have their income raided in this way, especially as pensions are not increasing anything like this rate.

"This is only going to serve to further anger old people."

Updated: 11:03 Wednesday, February 18, 2004