A HAMPSHIRE war veteran is prepared to go to prison in a bid to force council chiefs to tell him what his tax is spent on.

Fred Estall, 80, faces a court hearing next week for refusing to pay up after his bill increased by 15 per cent in April last year.

At about the same time pensions were increased by just four-and-a-half per cent.

The grandfather-of-three, who defended merchant convoys and loaded torpedo vessels during the Second World War, hoped that cancelling his standing order would shock council staff into calling him at home to ask why he had stopped.

But instead a summons arrived on his doormat five months later.

Now Mr Estall will stand up in court and demand why the local authorities in Hampshire want to decimate the nest egg he worked a lifetime to save.

Mr Estall, of Foord Road, Hedge End, said: "I wasn't refusing to pay I just wanted to ask a few questions. I want to know where my money is going.

"All I want is to be taxed fairly. If it was a case of going to prison I would go but if I don't pay in the end the bailiffs will knock at the door and take my possessions. I can't let that happen to my wife."

Days after his court appearance before Southampton magistrates on Thursday, January 15, Mr Estall will be joined by thousands of fellow pensioners at a march in London where they plan to demand action from Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Ken Thornber, leader of Hampshire County Council, said: "We cannot condone non-payment of council tax, but I do sympathise with the difficulties that payment of council tax can present those on low incomes.

"However, we needed to levy this charge in 2003/04 in order to continue to provide services to all residents in Hampshire, set against rising demand for services and well-above-inflation increases in the costs of social care and the number of people requiring our help."

An Eastleigh Borough Council spokesman urged Mr Estall to reconsider his decision and to pay the sum due immediately to avoid further action.

He said: "The council maintains approximately 49,000 accounts with eight staff and it clearly would not be possible to make personal visits or calls to individuals who fail to make payments."