BAILIFFS are poised to enter thousands of homes across east Cleveland in a bid to recover £4.5m in council tax debt.

More than 13,000 letters, demanding amounts varying from £5 to more than £3,000, are being sent to tax dodgers' homes across Redcar and Cleveland.

Some households will receive more than one letter due to arrears over several years of non-payment. The letters warn that bailiffs will move in unless full payment is made within 14 days.

Councillor Glyn Nightingale, the council's cabinet member for corporate resources, said: "Every one of these people is deliberately setting out to cheat the system and rob their neighbours of a better standard of living.

"This is an annual exercise, but this year we are determined to warn people that we mean business.''

He revealed that more cases than ever before will be referred to the bailiffs contracted to the council to try to force a speedier turnaround in revenue.

The council's call centre - on 08456 126 126 - expects a massive increase in the number of inquiries it will handle once the letters start dropping on doormats.

Coun Nightingale stressed: "We are doing this for the benefit of everyone in Redcar and Cleveland.

"I'm sure there will be hundreds of debtors who will be feeling sorry for themselves, but it's about time they faced up to their responsibilities, like the vast majority of our residents."