A PENSIONER threatened with legal action when she paid her council tax a week late has spoken of her relief after the prosecution was dropped.

Derwentside District Council had summonsed Ivy George, 69, to appear before Consett Magistrates' this Friday, for non-payment of council tax, despite the fact that her payments are up to date.

Mrs George, who has never missed a payment, said: "I have done nothing but cry since I got the letter.

"I have never been to court in my life and I was terrified."

Mrs George, of Shield Row Gardens, Stanley, faced prosecution because she pays her rates over the counter rather than by direct debit.

The council offers direct debit customers four dates a month when the cash can be paid.

But it demands that anyone paying by another method has to settle on the first of each month.

Those people who repeatedly miss the deadline lose the right to pay monthly. A liability order and court summons are issued.

The council demanded that Mrs George paid her January council tax as well, a total of £172, plus court costs of £30.70.

After pressure from North Durham MP Kevan Jones, the council said it was dropping the case.

Mr Jones said: "This is welcome news for Mrs George.

"But I still think it is outrageous that Derwentside District Council is not amending its policy and are criminalising decent, law-abiding citizens like Mrs George.

"She is not alone, there are more people out there being treated the same. This is not what councils, who care about the people they are supposed to represent, should be doing."

Mike Clark the council's executive director, said: "Having reviewed the case and applied the flexibility that our policy allows, we will by withdrawing our summons."

But he said the policy of prosecuting late payers would remain, as the council tried to meet its Government target of reclaiming 98 per cent of council tax this year.

Mr Clark said: "We can be quite flexible in some circumstances. But when people don't hit the dates, we have to remind them quite strongly that this public money is due."