A COUNCIL boss in Pendle has hit back at claims that its council tax department had been harrassing a member of the public.

Brian Jackson, a leading campaigner for environmental issues across East Lancashire, accused Pendle Borough Council of harassment after denying he owed it any money.

Mr Jackson was summonsed to court in November last year for not paying his council tax.

But financial manager for the Council, Derek Thomas, said Mr Jackson owed a 'substantial amount' of money and the council was in the right to take action.

He said: "Mr Jackson wrote to the court explaining that he was living alone.

"When our court officer looked at his case again she found he was due discount and that was granted and was sufficient to take out the debt which he was summonsed to court for at that stage.

"Since then his account has been recalculated again, I think due to a change in benefit, so it then brought back some debt. He still owes us a substantial amount of money for this year and the previous year.

"We will be looking into it fully and hopefully he will contact us so that we can get this sorted out."

Mr Jackson was unavailable to comment today.