SURREY County Council is set to raise council tax for the second consecutive year.

The Tory-run authority will raise council tax by 1.99per cent - just below the two per cent threshold at which a local referendum must be held.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has described councils imposing such rises as "democracy dodgers". The council's Lib Dem leader Hazel Watson called for the tax to be frozen.

The council's cabinet discussed the increase on Tuesday and is expected to rubber-stamp the increasee next week when the full council meets.

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