COUNCIL tax dodgers in Rossendale are being warned they have no where to hide.

New state-of-the-art computer software which can help track debtors is being used to help tackle tax evasion in the Valley.

Last week, two non-payers received a suspended sentence following court proceedings and a total of five warrants of arrest for non-payment have been issued since September.

In September it was revealed that Rossendale Council was owed £759,000 by council tax payers, almost a fifth of the amount it collects.

Council bosses managed to collect 97.2 per cent of all council tax last year but wants to improve further.

Coun Darryl Smith, cabinet member for customer services and ICT, said: “Non payment is not fair on the majority of people who do pay their Council Tax promptly and it has an effect on budgets available for services which benefit all residents in the Valley.

“The Council will always assist people who are genuinely finding it difficult to pay their council tax but has some robust procedures in place for dealing with deliberate non payment and it will use them to pursue people who consistently fail to pay.”

Those who fail to attend a committal hearing receive and instant warrant of arrest to force court attendance.

Andrew Buckle Head of Customer Services and ICT added: “The council takes non payment of council tax very seriously.

“We have recently invested in some state of the art software which we are using to track down people who don’t pay their council tax.

“We urge anyone who is having genuine difficulty in paying their council tax to get in touch with us as soon as possible and if necessary to seek out debt advice from an organisation such as the Citizens Advice Bureau.”

To contact Rossendale’s Council call 0845 900 0500 or residents can visit the One Stop Shop, off Lord Street, Rawtenstall.