A FACEBOOK group set up to protest the proposed 12.5% rise in council tax has gained more than 4,000 members in four days.

The Reject the PCC Council Tax Rise group was set up on Monday, February 12, following the announcement that the council cabinet had unanimously backed the proposed 12.5% rise.

Since its creation the group has gained 4,500 members (as of 12noon, February 15), and continues to grow.

The group's moderator and founder, Johnny Vaughan, of Haverfordwest, said he believes it will be an important way to show Pembrokeshire County Councillors that many are unhappy with the proposal.

"I thought this was worthy of a group on Facebook. This must not go unchallenged -- is what people really want a 12.5% council tax rise?" he said.

Johnny believes the group will be able to send a strong message to councillors that the rise is not acceptable, and said the only reasonable rise would be 3%, in line with inflation.

"There are some people who won't mind paying the rise, but in the really impoverished areas of the county, I don't think people will be able to sensibly budget for the increase," he added.

Visit the group's Facebook page here.

At the moment, Johnny only plans for the group to take action via social media, but asks for members to be respectful as they protest.

"For me, the two things that are important are that people are peaceful and respectful and speak in a decent way, because that's what this group is all about," he said.

UPDATE 1.55pm: Since this article went live at 12.55pm, the group has leapt to 5,300 members.