A CAMPAIGN for the abolition of the Council Tax has been backed by Redcar and Cleveland councillors.

Ian Swales, Liberal Democrat Candidate for Redcar, is gathering petitions against the Tax in favour of a fairer alternative.

The political party will introduce a local income tax that will see 70 per cent of households benefit or see no change. The average family will be £450 a year better off and most pensioners will also benefit.

Liberal Democrat Councillors on Redcar and Cleveland Council are backing the call, and Leader Chris Abbott said: "It's high time the process for raising local revenue was changed. We need a fairer system based on people's ability to pay."

Mr Swales says the present system needs to be changed for many reasons, including the fact that pensioners pay the same as their wage-earning neighbours.

He said: "Council Tax is based on what someone else thinks your house is worth and the less well-off pay a much higher proportion of their income in tax than the most well off. It is inefficient because it only covers a quarter of Council spending and, across the country, costs £300 million to collect."

The prospective Redcar candidate is gathering signatures for a local petition. People wishing to join the campaign can visit the website at www.axe-the-tax.org.uk