Elizabeth Winkfield says she has been getting lots of support

Mr Raynsford gave 83-year-old Elizabeth Winkfield the message she must obey the law after she refused to settle a �99 tax debt.

Miss Winkfield, from Westward Ho!, Devon, said she would rather go to jail than pay her council tax.

The spinster was faced with a council tax rise of almost 18% last year, but decided to pay only an extra 2.5%.

I've been getting letters from people and telephone calls telling me I'm a hero Elizabeth Winkfield

Mr Raynsford told the Sunday with Adam Boulton programme on Sky: "It is a fairly straightforward principle of any democratic society that people have to obey the law.

"I believe this is a case where it is important that she is approached in a sensitive way. But she must be aware that it is not very sensible to try to encourage people to break the law."

Ms Winkfield, who is originally from Worcestershire, has no other income than her state pension and says she cannot afford to pay the �747.81 council tax bill for modest bungalow.

She was taken to Barnstaple Magistrates' Court by Torridge District Council.

Asked whether she was prepared to go to prison over her protest, she said: "We will have to wait and see".

She told the BBC's Breakfast with Frost programme on Sunday she could not believe the massive media reaction to her case.

She said: "I never thought it would get to this stage.

"I just thought maybe a few local people would be at the court to see me, or maybe nobody.

"I've been getting letters from people and telephone calls telling me I'm a hero and all I've said is that I'm not paying. I'm not going to because it's not right."

Asked whether she had seen the inside of a prison she replied she had only read about them or seen them on television.

"I never dreamt I'd be likely to get anywhere near one," she said.

The government has said that it will work to stop councils imposing big increases in tax this year.