A NEW swipe card is being launched to help Padiham residents pay their council tax after they faced payment chaos.

Last month dozens of residents, many elderly, faced 45 minutes queues after been given the wrong payment office opening times on the back of their bills.

Burnley Borough Council is sending 3,800 payment swipe cards to residents in the Padiham Town Council area to help stop a repeat of the confusion.

The card will be accepted at a number of shops and post offices in the town, meaning residents will not have to visit payment centres to meet their monthly installments.

Elizabeth Bolton, clerk to Padiham Town Council cautiously welcomed the introduction of the card.

She said: "It is good Burnley Borough Council has addressed the situation and have given people another option in how to pay their council tax.

"But what we want to ensure is that Burnley Council continue to provide services and this move does not detract from the provision of services at Padiham Town Hall.

"Padiham Council is working wholeheartedly to ensure the town hall remains open for the people of Padiham to contact Burnley Council or the town council for any problems they may have."

The card scherme, run by direct payment company Allpay on behalf of the council, is now operational.

Michael Frazer, local taxation manager for Burnley Borough Council said the cards should be with residents in the next few days.

He said: "The cards come with a letter explaining the scheme, and they can be used straight away."