The Department of Finance and Personnel confirmed yesterday that Belfast households will face the biggest percentage rises when the unpopular new rates bills drop through the letter box for 2007-2008.

The Department said average bills in Belfast would be up £117 at an average of £697.

Ratepayers in the city are facing the hardest bite in Northern Ireland from the new capital value system, followed by Castlereagh where rates for the next financial year will rise by 19% on average.

When actual bill size is taken into account the people of North Down have the most to complain about - the area has average bills of £900, up £138 or 18%.

Controversy has surrounded the rates payment for homeowners in Northern Ireland since the Government announced that the capital value of ratepayers' property was to be taken into consideration.

This has led to significant rates increases for people living in property hot spots where values have rocketed in recent years.

Many, especially those who bought properties decades ago for a much lower price than what it is worth today, are opposed to the new system and concerned about the increased financial burden it causes.

There are also wide concerns about new water rates which mean an extra financial pain on top of the rates.

Anne Monaghan of the Northern Ireland Fair Rates Campaign described the system as a "blunt instrument which adversely affects first-time buyers, the elderly, single person households, students, the disabled and the 'asset-rich, cash poor'."

She is hoping locally elected politicians will reassess the introduction of the system if the Assembly is restored on March 26.

"As the election looms, voters must read all manifestos and ask searching questions of all candidates, particularly Sinn Fein

and the DUP. These parties will be the two largest parties in the Assembly and a cross-community vote is required for the system to be deferred come March 26. Deferral is the only acceptable option," she said.

According to the department statistics, Moyle District Council rate payers have the second highest average bills - up 11% at £788 - closely followed by Down - up 12% at £774.

Close behind is Ards on £773 and Coleraine on £752.

Strabane, which has the lowest property prices in Northern Ireland, will have the lowest average rates - £563 - actually down 1%. Residents in just two more of the 26 council districts will see a drop in the average bill. Carrickfergus will see bills down 1% at £666 and Craigavon a more substantial 4% at £641.

The Department said that the table provided analysis "of the effects of the first-year of capital valuation, which reflects house values as determined on January 2005".

"Changes in average bills reflect not only increases in regional and district rates but also variations in average capital values as a result of the revaluation," it said.