'VANISHING' publicans have left an East Lancashire council counting the cost of uncollected tax.

Ribble Valley Council has been forced to write off £11,036.10 of unpaid national non-domestic rates due from three pub bosses who have since shut up shop.

And a further £7,172.82 has gone uncollected from landlords whose businesses have gone into liquidation.

The figures, presented to a meeting of Ribble Valley's policy and finance committee, prompted councillors to question what more could be done to make publicans pay.

Most also owed council tax for living at the properties.

Coun Stuart Hirst said: "Do the breweries end up losing out like this?" Marshall Scott, director of finance at council, said: "We are writing these off but if any information about the whereabouts of the people we haven't been able to track down does come to light, then we will follow it up."

Those listed as 'going away' include Alan Brown, formerly the Durham Ox Hotel, Berry Lane, Longridge, who owed £1,353.16.

He also owed £571.77 in council tax.

John Willacy, who used to run the Black Horse Inn, in Pimlico Road, Clitheroe, vanished owing just £47.47 in business rates.

And Jim Naismith, formerly of the Dog Inn, Market Place, Longridge, is listed as owing £9,635.47 business tax and £435.58 in council tax.

The Callys Pub Co Ltd, which used to run the Whalley Arms, Whalley, vanished owing £70.17.

Of the businesses which went into liquidation or bankrupt, John Wilson of the Duke William Hotel, Chapel Hill, owed £686.33 in council tax and £3,731.29 in business rates.

Trans Span Ltd, which ran the Hark to Bounty Pub in Slaidburn, owed £1,385.14; Key Street Music Bar, Lowergate, Clitheroe had £646 outstanding, and the Simonstone Hotel, Simonstone Lane £1,399.67.

Most of the bars have opened with new tenants or owners.

Councillors agreed to write off the business rates, and a total of £15,368.95 in unpaid council tax from people who had 'gone away' and £5,762.46 from people made bankrupt.