Placard waving pensioners protested on the streets of Ipswich

A group paraded through Ipswich town centre waving placards and asking passers-by to sign a petition on Thursday.

The protesters say council tax has risen more than inflation over the last few years and pensioners on fixed incomes are struggling to pay their bills.

Reg Hartles, leader of the Protest Against Council Tax in Suffolk, said the demonstration was to force Suffolk County Council to be more responsible with its spending and ease the burden on taxpayers.

"We can not afford to have them to keep hitting us with these huge figures," he said.

Three times inflation

"Over the last four years council tax has risen 46.4%. If we had a standstill next year it would still amount to a 9% rise over five years and that's three times the rate of inflation."

Suffolk has faced some of the largest council tax increases in the country this year with an average increase county-wide of 18.5%.

But the council says it will not be freezing next year's bills.

The council says it is regrettable that pensioners on fixed incomes are being hit by the tax, but it will not be able to freeze levels.

However, the council says it will be open to discussion about next year's bills.