DOZENS of residents, many of them elderly, have been forced to queue for up to 45 minutes to pay their council tax bills this week after being given the wrong opening times.

One woman was taken to hospital after fainting while queuing outside Padiham Town Hall yesterday morning.

Burnley Council have now apologised after an administrative mix-up which saw February's bills printed with the wrong information stating that the town hall collection office would be open all day every day.

The hall, which is rented from the council by Burnley Padiham Community Housing (BPCH), is in fact open during the morning until 12.30pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The private housing company changed the opening times after the bills were printed in February.

Mayor of Padiham Bob Clark said people now may miss today's deadline for payments and called on Burnley Council and BPCH to come to an agreement on longer opening hours.

He said: "There was a queue of honest and decent people trying to pay. Why should they default on payments through no fault of their own?

"Some people are coming two or three times a week and are finding it difficult to pay. All we are asking for is a facility for Padiham where people can pay bills.

"Everything is here, the facilities are here. All we need is the door opening."

Elizabeth Bolton, clerk of Padiham council said the chaos resulted from residents wanting to pay their council tax on Tuesday morning.

She said: "People were angry because they were here to pay but there was no facility available. The town council want to ensure services are maintained for the people of Padiham.

"We do not want residents being penalised for late payment when they tried to pay. Burnley Council need to address this problem and it should have been addressed before the council tax bills were issued." Tracy Wilkinson, 36, who lives in Cambridge Drive, Padiham, said she arrived on Wednesday at 12.28pm and the office was closed.

She said: "I have been three times this week and it is ridiculous. You can't be standing here for ever and a day. I am not going until I have paid my bill today."

Robert Astbury, Burnley Council's benefits manger, said 40,000 bills were printed on February 16 and at the time the information was correct. When BPCH changed their hours it was too late for amendments.

He said: "We offer our sincere apologies for any inconvenience to our customers."