RESIDENTS in Darlington, who last year faced the highest council tax rises in the region, are facing further misery.

Last year, bills rose 12.5 per cent. Yesterday, council leader John Williams said a 9.5 per cent increase would not be enough to cover council spending.

Leisure services, such as the Dolphin Centre or Civic Theatre, could close if council tax was not increased.

Councillor Williams said: "We have some difficult choices to make.

"We can cut certain services, which we know are valued, or we can increase an already low level of council tax.

"The rise is to provide services, but if we make these increases we will still be one of the lowest council taxes in the region."

Conservative leader Councillor Tony Richmond said: "Since the Labour Government came in, council tax has increased in Darlington by 42 per cent and now people face another huge increase.

"We have to remember that everyone pays council tax. There are some 20,000 pensioners in Darlington and they will all face this increase."

But Coun Williams accused the Conservatives of being hypocritical.

"The fact is the last Tory Government forced the council to drop its council tax in early 1997, taking £3.6m in resources away from Darlington every year. We are still having to deal with the fall-out."

A new survey for the council has revealed that most people in the borough are pleased with the way the authority is running the town and Coun Williams said he hoped this would continue.

Among services the council needs to find money for is care for the elderly. The council is closing its nursing homes because it cannot afford to upgrade them and some private homes have shut because they are not viable.

The council wants to increase the amount it pays per resident to private homes.

Coun Williams said: "We have to make sure the spaces are there for the people who need them."