RESIDENTS of a North-East village were stunned to learn of an inflation-busting increase in the parish council precept.

And members of a residents' association, who heard of the rise when contacted by The Northern Echo, accused the council of drawing a veil of secrecy around its activities.

Chilton Parish Council, in County Durham, has raised its precept by 41 per cent this year, up from £104,000 to nearly £147,000.

When the other elements of the council tax are included, it means that Chilton residents will be paying 17 per cent more, the biggest increase in Sedgefield borough. That figure translates to an increase of nearly £115 a year for a band A property, up from £676.60 to £791.50. The figures are expected to be approved by Sedgefield Borough Council today.

Margaret Taylor, chairman of the Chilton West Residents' Association, challenged the parish council to explain what they are going to spend the money on.

She said: "All we see is flowers in the high street. We get no information from the parish council to say what they are doing with that money.

"They should be accountable to the people who elect them, but quite a few people do not even know who the parish councillors are."

Parish council clerk Paul Gray said most of the increase was to repair footpaths in Chilton cemetery.

He said: "The parish council has tried for funding and we just can't get it. It's either raise the precept or close the cemetery." He said most of the rest of the increase was down to training for members and staff.

"We know we're going to be in for some stick, but we will stand up and be counted if people have any objections," he said.