A MAN who strongly opposed the council tax has been told he must pay up - even though he is now dead.

And council officials have even written to Bernard Montague telling him that his family's bill had been re-calculated due to his death!

Bernard suffered a massive heart attack and died in his flat at Ellerbeck Road, Darwen, on January 10.

But he has been ordered by Blackburn and Darwen Council to pay £115.24 after his entitlement was recalculated "following a bereavement."

His family contacted the council the day after his death, but so far three letters have been sent to him at his home regarding his council tax and other benefits.

His son Ian said that despite being against the tax his dad paid it on time every month until he died.

He said: "My dad hated the council tax, you couldn't find anyone who hated it as much as him, so it's ironic that he's being chased for payment by these incompetent buffoons even when he's dead.

"It beggars belief how this can happen.

"All the family is really upset. They're shocked and appalled."

One letter states "Your entitlement has been recalculated due to family bereavement" and orders him to pay £115.24 in council tax for the period January 16 2006 to March 31 2006.

A second letter informs the deceased that his claim for housing benefit had been cancelled, again due to a bereavement, and he now had to pay the full rent on his property.

And the third letter said a claim for council tax benefit had been cancelled, due to bereavement.

Ian said: "My dad and my mum divorced 20 odd years ago and at the time of his death my dad lived on his own.

"We filled in all the correct paperwork and got in touch with the right people and yet we still get sent these letters when my dad's in the grave.

"I just think it's quite hilarious that they can send letters like this out although it's also sad to think that our council tax is going towards paying for these people and these mistakes."

Ian added: "I've been in church twice praying but my dad still hasn't answered me to say what he'll be doing about these letters."

Executive member for citizen and consumer rights, councillor Frank Connor admitted the letters had been sent by mistake.

He said: "The letters were sent out in error and I can only apologise to the family for the distress this has caused.

"Mistakes like this are very rare and we are taking steps to ensure that this won't happen again."