Anne Scott said the tax rise was hitting her pension

Anne Scott, of Wadebridge, had only paid an inflation-rise increase in her council tax bill after deciding that the 11% actually brought in by North Cornwall District Council was too much.

She said she felt her pension was being whittled down by such rises. However, she was then informed she would face court action if she did not pay the difference.

She said the payment of the difference in small coins was her own way of making a stand.

Budget pressures

She said: "If I went up there with a cheque to pay the arrears, that wouldn't have made any protest at all.

"So, I decided to go to the bank, get the pennies and sent it to the council that way."

North Cornwall District Council said the tax increase was due to budget pressures arising from things like homelessness, demand for housing benefits and insurance costs.

"Our own costs have risen, but a very poor grant from central government meant that we have to increase council tax to maintain the present level of services," a statement said.

Ms Scott is not the first South West pensioner to make a stand against the rises in council tax.

Last month, Devon pensioner John Peerless carried out a 48-hour sit-down protest over his council tax bill at Plymouth Magistrates' Court.

He was refusing to pay a council tax demand for more than �1,000 after an increase by Plymouth City Council of 15%.