COUNCIL tax payers in Petersfield look set to pay the price of an authority's bid to balance the books.

East Hampshire District Council is ready to defy its residents by increasing council tax for the second year running.

A rise of two per cent has been proposed despite the offer of a government settlement that would have resulted in a council tax freeze.

The increase is bound to upset many residents as the district council was one of just a handful of authorities that spurned a similar deal in 2012.

For full story, see this week's Petersfield Herald.