MY council tax rate for 1987 was £96.39, for 2002 it is £770.45 (Band C), a rise of more than 750 per cent in 15 years.

Last year's tax was £702.80, a rise of £67.65, nearly ten per cent in one year. If this upward trend continues it will have doubled again by 2010 (£1,500 plus) and I thought Dick Turpin was dead.

A J Parkin,

North Parade, York.

...CITY of York Council took the first instalment of my council tax which was due on April 1 on March 29.Do the council have the right to do this and what effects will this have on people who are on a tight budget

Eric J Walters,

Broadacres, Haxby, York.

Updated: 08:53 Saturday, April 06, 2002