CAN it really be the case that students, who now make up more than 50 pet cent of the population in central Durham, will carry on indefinitely living here without being liable for council tax?

They reap all the benefits of the tax that local people pay, rubbish collection, roads and street lighting etc, without they or their landlords paying a penny towards it.

This unfair situation is the result of a national government policy, which exempts certain categories within the population, including students, from having to pay the tax.

Because of the high concentration of university students here, the financial loss to our city exceeds £5m.

It would be only reasonable if the many landlords who make a killing out of renting properties to students should pay the tax and put something back into the city coffers. The city of Liverpool is in the process of finding ways round the law, and Durham should put every effort into following their example.

Lotte Shankland, Durham