The woman, who is married and from Willenhall, owed a total of �2,891 going back to April 1995.

Magistrates in Coventry jailed her on Wednesday after hearing about the number of opportunities she had been given to pay.

City council leader John Mutton said the sentence sent out a "powerful message" to all people in arrears in Coventry who have been avoiding payment or have refused to pay.

The authority, which is owed about �12m in council tax, said the punishment reflects their determination to crack down on people who do not pay up.

The council added that anyone in genuine financial difficulty would be treated sympathetically and given the opportunity to pay off their debts without fear of imprisonment.