PENSIONERS in High Wycombe said they are resigned to the fact that their lifestyles will suffer after the announcement that council tax is set to rise by at least 7.5 to eight per cent.

Jim Tanner, chairman of the Pensioners' Voice group, said OAPs in High Wycombe were unhappy with the rise but couldn't see how they could change things.

Mr Tanner went to a monthly meeting of the group on Saturday afternoon in the hope of starting a campaign against the hike.

He said: "I was expecting a lot of shouting and people to raise their voices but they all seemed resigned to it."

High Wycombe's pensioners were not prepared to go to prison over the rises, unlike council tax rebel Sylvia Hardy from Exeter.

Mr Tanner said: "I did not expect them to look resigned to the fact but they were.

"It will affect the quality of life for pensioners who don't have a lot of money, there is no doubt of that."

The projected increase means around a £70 per year rise for band D households from April.

The rise is due to a low Government grant, said county council leader David Shakespeare.