The council wants debtors to come forward before the bailiffs go in

Thanet District Council says it has summoned 1,342 people for non-payment of council tax as a way of showing it means business.

If the authority successfully claims back the debts, which date back as far as 1997, it stands to be over �300,000 better off.

The move comes six weeks after the local elections brought the Conservatives into power.

Councillor Martin Wise, of Thanet District Council, said: "We think it's necessary in order to collect the rates that are due to the council and Kent County Council.

Seize property

"I think all councils are very eager to collect council taxes due to them.

"To be fair, action has been taken at fairly regular intervals over the past few years but for a new council I think it's important that we collect as much council tax as we can."

He said the court orders would give the authority the power to send bailiffs to seize property from people's homes.

But he stressed the council was targeting hardened non-payers rather than those who could not afford council tax.

"We don't want people to be fined, we don't want bailiffs to take their property away - what we want is for people to contact us," he said.