CLAIRE Turner and her partner Darren Rush are still coming to terms with last April's council tax rise.The young couple live with their two young children in St John's Road in Ipswich and have seen their bills increase dramatically over the last few months.

CLAIRE Turner and her partner Darren Rush are still coming to terms with last April's council tax rise.

The young couple live with their two young children in St John's Road in Ipswich and have seen their bills increase dramatically over the last few months.

"They've gone up by £15 a month to £83 a month – that's money you really notice," said 24-year-old Claire.

She is currently on maternity leave from Churchill Insurance after Nathan was born just two weeks ago.

But another steep rise next year could affect the family's plans for the future.

"As a young couple money is already very tight and another increase would make things even worse," she said.

It could affect her plans for 18-month-old Jake.

"Next year I'd like to get him into playschool some days, but if we have to spend more on council tax we won't be able to afford it," she said.

"We don't have much money to spend on luxuries either – and anything we do get we really work for.

"An increase like that is something we really notice – it means we have to go without something else."

Claire said not paying the bills would not be an option for them next year – however much they were put up.

"Given our family situation, we shall have to pay whatever they demand. We can't go to court or anything.

"But we will remember what they've done to us when they next come looking for votes!"

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