PENSIONERS Stephen and Joan Spencer were threatened with court action by Rossendale Council, despite paying their council tax each month.

The problem is they pay their bill at the end of the month and the council wants them to pay at the start.

The couple, both 75, say they prefer to pay at the end of the month when they settle their other bills and know the money is in the bank.

But last month Mr and Mrs Spencer, of Burnley Road, Rawtenstall, received a summons to appear before Rossendale Magistrates for council tax arrears. Although the summons was quashed before the court date, Mr Spencer said: "We are being persecuted for not paying on the first of the month.

"They offered for us to pay by direct debit but the bottom line is we prefer to pay the bill by cheque at the end of the month so we know we are sorted."

Mr Spencer, a former miner who also worked for the ambulance service, said: "We went to the council to discuss the matter and at first there was no interview room free so the officer spoke to us in a corridor, then ushered us into a store cupboard to tell us to pay by direct debit.

"They told us that almost 50 per cent of people pay their council tax by direct debit. I want to know how many people don't actually pay, unlike us who do every month.

"We weren't going to make a fuss, but I know of four other people who, like us, pay their council tax at the end of the month and they have never been threatened with court action." Mrs Spencer added: "I have never been in court in my life."

Mr Spencer is also concerned that the council's letter represents a veiled threat of further court action and has seen a solicitor who advised the couple to take the matter to court.

He told them what they were doing was right -- by paying their bill.

Assistant treasurer Paul Coit said the council had issued 300 summonses but all apart from 30 were withdrawn after the council decided not to pursue people only a month in arrears.

The council changed its collection date in April, 1999, from the last day of the month to the first on recommendation of the District Auditor.

Mr Coit said: "I am surprised that other people who pay their council tax when Mr and Mrs Spencer do, have not also received a summons.

"Mr and Mrs Spencer are good payers, and their council tax will be cleared by the end of January, but it should be clear now."