ANGER vented by Catterick Village residents over national taxation rates is to be taken direct to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

After attending a public meeting to hear villagers' views on local and national tax and rates, Richmond MP William Hague agreed to put their comments to Gordon Brown.

At the meeting last Friday, organised by Bay Horse landlady Cath Thompson, Mr Hague said he shared residents' concerns over national taxes.

Ms Thompson said small businesses faced particular difficulties with VAT, Pay As You Earn, tax credit, stakeholder pensions, a minimum wage rise of 11pc, increased National Insurance contributions and hefty rises in non-domestic rates and council tax.

Mr Hague congratulated her for organising the meeting, which allowed local people to air their views.

"A large part of the problem at district and county level is the Government requiring local authorities to do things and not funding them to do these things," he said. "They end up increasing the council tax to do those things they are legally required to do.

"I want to make a list for Gordon Brown of the points made in this meeting. I am going to send him a letter with the points that have been made here."

The protesters, who packed the pub to the doors, also tackled county and district council members over the above-inflation rise in council tax and business rates, including a 41.5pc increase in the police authority precept.

Coun John Weighell, county council leader, said increased National Insurance payments alone would cost the authority £2.5m next year - a 2pc rise in council tax before other budgeting began.

Coun Carl Les said North Yorkshire police had faced massive bills for a number of major incidents over the last two years. These included the Great Heck rail disaster, which cost the force £500,000 in overtime alone.

The case of the body in a suitcase found near York had also been costly, as the investigation had led to several countries, and the force had to pay for dealing with the Good Friday pile-up at Boroughbridge, the investigation which followed the delivery of letter bombs in the county and flooding.

Insurance for the constabulary had increased by between 40pc and 300pc following the September 11 terrorist attacks and the police pensions bill was rising, as the force now had more retired officers than active ones.

Policing cost about £1.70 a week per household, said Coun Les. "I think, as a member of the authority, that to pay £1.70 a week for policing is not a bad deal," he said.

Coun Les also defended the appointment of a force padre to help officers deal with the stresses and dangers of the job. Funding was shared with the Church and cost the police £13,000 a year.

The protesters called for a pruning of staff at County Hall and the district council and a pay freeze for council workers.

Parish council issues, including the 59.6pc increase in the parish precept, were also aired, although the chairman had declined to attend the meeting