Protesters march on London

TAX protesters embarked on another stage of their long journey for fairness today joining thousands from across the country – and The Evening Star was with them every step of the way.

The Protest Against Council Tax in Suffolk (PACTS) has mounted a sustained campaign on its own doorstep.

But today it took the protest to London and the corridors of power.

Police said about 3,000 people were expected to attend the march, which was

culminating in a petition being delivered to 10 Downing Street.

The rally, organised by the 'Is it Fair' campaign, was beginning in

Trafalgar Square at noon, before moving along Whitehall to Downing Street.

On Wednesday The Evening Star exclusively revealed the rise in council tax is set to duck under five per cent this year.

That rate is still well above the rate of inflation and comes on top of the whopping 18.5pc rise last year.

And the PACTS protestors wanted to voice their anger over the huge cost of the council tax to householders across the county – many of them on a fixed income.

It was a pre-dawn start for the group on their journey up to London to meet up with thousands of other protestors in Trafalgar Square.

From there it was a march through the streets of the capital to present their demands at Whitehall.

Spirits were high despite the early start, the prospect of a late finish and the forecast for some windy, wintry weather for the day.

One of the march's organisers Tom Sully said protesters were determined to keep the pressure on the Government despite lower than anticipated rate rise in Suffolk.

He said: "Our main aim is to keep the problems of excessive council tax rises well up to the forefront of the Government's agenda.

"We want to try and demonstrate just how angry a very large number of people in the country are about these rises.

"We are willing to give up our Saturday and spend our own money to get up to London to show our feelings.

"We are hoping for a good turnout and a good day."