About 300 island residents have signed a petition against the rise

Residents on the Isles of Scilly are to lobby a meeting of the islands' full council to protest against a 25% rise in council tax.

Objectors want a public meeting to be held so they can quiz councillors and officers openly.

The Council of the Isles of Scilly has scheduled an Open Day for the end of June, but protesters say this will not give them the opportunity to question councillors and officers over the hike in bills.

About 300 residents on the Isles of Scilly signed a petition against the rise in council tax and calling for a public meeting.

Government rules

The increase means that a bill for an average Band D property has gone up by more than �170.

Protesters say they feel an open day will be too orchestrated and restrictive.

The council has said the increase is because it has lost out because of government rules on grant aid.

Residents say they do not understand why the local government minister said he would issue support grants to limit large tax rises and yet the islands' council says the increase is due to inadequate central funding.