A HOUSING company today warned residents - pay up over Christmas or we'll evict you.

Burnley and Padiham Community Housing said that evictions would soar if families did not pay up over the festive period.

But an MP today said the timing of the letters to all 2,300 tenants with rent arrears could have been better.

The company is currently owed £780,000 in rent arrears -- about the same as a year ago.

If the arrears were paid in full the company said it would be able to install another 3,000 central heating systems or 2,250 new kitchens.

Director of housing Paul Buckley said: "I know that some people will say that we are being mean-spirited at Christmas but this is a move designed to prevent unnecessary evictions next year."

Burnley MP Peter Pike criticised the timing of the warning saying: "Perhaps they could have been more sensitive sending out the letters two or three weeks earlier before as perhaps people have committed their money at Christmas.

Mr Buckley added: "I am constantly amazed that each year rent arrears increase around Christmas. People will openly tell us that they have paid other bills but cannot afford to pay their rent.

"Rent payments should be a priority in all household budgets and as far as Burnley and Padiham is concerned there are no rent free weeks at Christmas for tenants in arrears."

He expressed concern that some tenants still believed that because they received housing benefit or because they had dependant children they were protected from eviction.

He said: "The reality is that if people do not show that they are reducing their arrears or sticking to re-payment agreements to clear arrears they will be evicted.

"It doesn't matter if the arrears are £200 or £2,000. We expect everyone to pay."

This year the housing company which took over the running of Burnley's 5,300 former council houses has evicted 14 families because of rent arrears.

A further nine eviction warrants were suspended but only on payment of substantial lump sums.

In total 164 court orders for rent arrears were obtained during the year, the majority after the last Christmas and New Year period.

Mr Buckley warned against complacency adding: "It does worry me that so many of our customers seem to think that they can use their rent accounts like free bank overdrafts.

"We are simply not in that business. I want to urge all our customers to take a responsible attitude over Christmas and to contact us if they are not sure what they should be paying each week.

"Making a New Year's resolution to pay the rent is probably one of the best ways of securing the family's future."

Mr Pike added: "The arrears fall on the tenants who pay on time and have to be recovered.

"I accept that some people have genuine problems in paying. They should be speedily discussed with the company. People should not just leave these things."