MORE than 4,000 people were successfully prosecuted in the past year for not paying their council tax, according to new figures.

But about 60 people escaped without paying at all.

Thousands of Darlington residents who are yet to pay any of this year's bill received court orders this week, demanding at least partial payment. The orders give Darlington Borough Council the power to chase the debt through any means.

Last year, measures included deductions from benefit, deductions from earnings, and bailiffs. In "extreme" cases the council can ask for committal to prison, a spokesman said.

In total, the authority raised £32.768m in council tax last year. In addition, £63,000 - or about 60 bills - was written off.

The spokesman said: "Bills that are written off include people moving away who we can't contact - after a point it becomes more expensive to pursue them than the money we would recoup.

"Other reasons are bankruptcy, people dying, or if someone moves out of the jurisdiction of the England and Wales courts."

Last year, there were 4,973 summons issued, resulting in 4,196 prosecutions.

Earlier this week, the council announced a new crackdown on residents fraudulently claiming the 25 per cent single person discount.