COUNCIL taxpayers in Middlesbrough have to foot the bill after a Government miscount at the last census, it has been claimed.

Residents of Stockton, and Redcar and Cleveland are also facing council tax increases more than double the rate of inflation.

The total bill for council, police and fire services will rise next month by eight per cent in Middlesbrough, by 7.1 per cent in Redcar and Cleveland, six per cent in Hartlepool and by just under seven per cent in Stockton.

Middlesbrough Council is increasing its portion of the bill by 6.9 per cent, which it blames on the under-estimation of its population.

The rest of the increase is because of increases in the police and fire brigade char- ges.

At a meeting on Wednesday night, Middlesbrough Council heard that the last Government census under-estimated the town's population by several thousand, which equated to between a £2m and £4m loss in the Government's grant to the authority.

Mayor Ray Mallon said: "I blame the Government for extra increases, but also for not arguing with the census organisation where population figures are concerned."

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is raising its part of the bill by 5.9 per cent, and says that 4.4 per cent of the increase is due to the nationally-agreed pay review for staff.

In a letter to every council taxpayer circulated with the new bills, a message from the council's coalition cabinet members said: "This essential and fair reform accounts for 4.4 per cent of the increase - had it not been for this large, yet unavoidable, one-off pay settlement, the increase would have been significantly less."

Stockton council is increasing its portion by 5.9 per cent, which it has also blamed on a national agreement to increase blue collar workers' wages for causing three per cent of that rise.

Council leader Bob Gibson said: "Most of our budgets will be pegged at less than one per cent, well below inflation. This is despite a rise in costs such as the Government-imposed increases in National Insurance contributions, pay awards and inflation from suppliers.

"I am very disappointed that the extra costs associated with the police and fire services are adding disproportionately to these council tax bills."

Cleveland Police Authority is demanding £136.84 from residents living in a band D property, a 13.8 per cent increase on last year.

Cleveland Fire Authority, which levied its own element in the council tax for the first time this year, is demanding £48.74 on a band D property.

Hartlepool Borough Council set its tax rate on February 19.