FINANCE chiefs have climbed a mountain to win a national award for encouraging payment of council tax by direct debit.

They have reached "Everest" status in the annual Reach for the Top Challenge as more and more people change the way they pay their bills.

Bury Council triumphed following a successful campaign which saw the number of direct debit payers rise by 8.5 per cent in the year to June 30.

The latest figures in Bury show that 41,372, nearly 53 per cent, of households now pay by this method. This compares to just 16,000 direct debit payers when the council tax started in 1993.

Some 2,405 companies, or 47 per cent, pay their business rates by direct debit. The Reach for the Top competition, now in its fourth year, encourages councils to promote payment of council tax by direct debit.

Local authorities benefit in terms of time, administration costs and cashflow consistency due to regular payment.

This year, Bury offered direct debit payers a choice of three dates in the month on which to pay their bills. By contrast, it moved payment dates forward by ten days for those who pay by other methods.

Bury has won the Everest Award, one of six categories in the challenge. These are all named after mountains in keeping with the competition's Reach for the Top theme.

Mr Mike Owen, Bury's chief financial services officer, said the award was recognition of the hard work finance staff had put in to increase take-up of direct debit.

"Local people will benefit from the ease with which direct debit lets them pay their bills and from the savings which the council has made and which it can use to help improve its services.

"The competition among local authorities that enter the Reach for the Top Challenge is very strong so I congratulate the team here for a job well done."

Bury will be presented with its award on October 10 in Bournemouth at the annual IRRV (Institute of Revenues, Ratings & Valuation) conference.

The council will also receive £500 to give to charity, and will be entered into a prize draw to win an activity weekend in the Lake District at the Calvert Trust for a local group of children with disabilities.