A TOWN hall "enforcer" has been appointed by Rossendale Council to compile a monthly list of householders who refuse to pay their bills.

Paul Coit, Rossendale Council's newly-appointed debt recovery officer, plans to list 40 non-payment cases per month for court action that could include jail, visits from bailiffs or forced deductions from pay packets.

His flying start has included three suspended 28-day prison sentences for non-payers of council tax.

Mr Coit, who has 30 years of revenue collection experience, said: "We will not hesitate in seeking jail or making debtors bankrupt where appropriate.

"Some people seem to think they can get way without paying yet their unpaid bills still have to be met by prompt payers. It is something we cannot allow to continue.

"The most serious court action will be reserved for people who have wilfully fallen behind. Even so, council tax should be paid every month and my job will be to ensure that things are not allowed to get out of hand."

An estimated 2,500 summonses were sent out in April for non-payment of rent, business rates and council tax.

Mr Coit said the reminders often brought cases of genuine hardship into the open.

He added: "There are people who have fallen on hard times and simply cannot pay. We will help those people by ensuring they are claiming all the help they are entitled to.

"What they should not do is just leave the problem in the hope it will go away.

"What we have to do is stop debts getting out of hand and then take robust action against those who think they can play the system.

"Honest taxpayers should no longer subsidise those who refuse to pay what is due."