COUNCIL officials have begun legal action in a bid to recover over £100,000 in unpaid tax.

About 140 local people and 17 businesses are facing court action by Richmondshire District Council after failing to pay council tax and business rates bills.

The latest round of court action follows efforts over the summer to collect as many outstanding payments as possible.

More than 700 summonses were issued during June and July in respect of unpaid bills totalling £500,000. The latest action brings the total to more than £600,000.

The council's financial unit manager, Martin Drydale, said: "We really go to extraordinary lengths to work with people and offer them every assistance if they are having trouble paying their bills - especially as once it gets to court we have to add a further £32 in costs to each unpaid amount.

"In the end though, there is always a hardcore of individuals who simply refuse to pay anything at all, and it is these people we ultimately have to target.

"Not only are we legally required to collect as much outstanding tax as possible, it's also the only way we can be sure our bills are kept as low as possible for everyone else."