THE finance chief of Medway Council has pleaded with Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to think again over finance changes which could mean a huge council tax rise in the area.

Last week Cllr Alan Jarrett revealed that this increase next year could be as much as 43 per cent to allow the council to maintain services despite the changes.

In "a plea for the people of Medway," he has now written an open letter to the Deputy Prime Minister. He says the concern is that the Government is risking bankrupting the council.

In the letter, finance portfolio holder Cllr Jarrett writes: "You have made no secret of your Government's desire to redistribute funds away from councils in the South East to the North of England. I urge you to consider the consequences of this course of action.

"Contrary to what you might think, life isn't always easy for those of us living in the South. Here in Medway we do have areas of real deprivation and people who are yet to enjoy the fruits of the economy.

"Many of us are paying much higher mortgages than elsewhere in the country - and this includes the low paid."