Commander White hopes others will oppose the rise

Commander Dennis White OBE, 80, from Chaltern Horethorne, says he is on a fixed income and can only afford to pay last year's bill, plus an increase of 2.5% or 3%.

Commander White, whose bill has risen by 12%, told the BBC: "I am really serious. I like a good fight for a good cause."

The county council blames central government's new funding formula, which they say penalises people in the region.

'More resources'

Commander White added: "I don't bother to fight when there is no chance of winning but if a lot of us kick up a fight something will have to be done."

Councillor Cathy Bakewell, leader of Somerset County Council, blamed the government for the increases.

"John Prescott and central government devised the rules and the funding settlement.

"It has penalised people in the South West - in particular people in Somerset," she added.

But Steve Freer, from the Public Finance and Accountability Institute, told the BBC: "The reality is that under the new funding formula, everyone gets more resources from the government.

"In some cases they are not getting as much as they hoped for, which does create pressure on budgets," he added.

Ms Bakewell said the council is being asked to perform more functions with the money they have, so there is less to go around.