Winchester residents have been told they could see council tax bills hiked up 45 per cent in 2007 as a result of housing revaluations.

Around 50 concerned rate-payers attended a public meeting held by South Hampshire Opposes Unfair Taxes (SHOUT), in which they learned how revaluation could see their homes shoot up one, two or even three council tax bands.

Mike Schofield, of SHOUT, explained the revaluations begin today and will affect council tax bills from 2007.

Properties were last valued for council tax purposes in 1991. Mr Schofield said a Band D property - worth around £80,000 in 1991 - could shoot up to a Band F value of £240,000, leaving homeowners paying 45 per cent more council tax.

He based the estimations on revaluing of properties in Wales, which he said saw many properties go up two or three tax bands despite the fact the government had estimated 25 per cent of properties would drop a band.

Dominic Hiscock, of Winchester County Council, said he didn't think the revaluations would make much difference. "There will only be a difference if they have been improved by substantial building work and are still paying band A or B rates," he said. "What it will do is catch people who are paying less tax than they should."

But Mr Schofield said having extensions or garages put on a home didn't mean the homeowners used more council services.

Ken Thornber, leader of Hampshire County Council, said he hoped central government would regionalise the new tax bands, so property in the north east of England would be in a different category to a comparable property in Hampshire.

"A £80,000 home in Newcastle should be compared to a £240,000 home in the south east," he said.

A typical Band D property - worth around £80,000 in 1991 - could be revalued at around £240,000 putting it into Band F with a rise in council tax of 45 per cent. Currently Band D taxpayers pay around £1,200 and Band F bills are around £1,718.