A WOMAN could face prison after she stopped paying her council tax because of a row with town hall bosses about collections from her wheelie-bin.

Susan Stamp has vowed to go to jail rather than back down to the council - which says she must buy a £30 new bin even though she already has one. Her bin has not been collected from her newly-built home in Cross Street, Farnworth, since last summer.

Mrs Stamp, who has been summoned to appear at Bolton Magistrates Court tomorrow for not paying council tax, said: "I will take this all the way - even if it means going to jail! It is ridiculous that the council will not collect my dustbin when it is a council dustbin like any other."

Bolton Council have refused to empty the bin which was left at the newly-built house by a builder last summer.

They say all new properties have to pay for a new bin, regardless of whether there is already one there or not.

Under the law, people can be fined and then imprisoned if they refuse to pay their fine for not paying council tax.

But Mrs Stamp added: "I can afford to pay my council tax but what I am saying is -- I want my rights.

"The people across the road haven't bought their bins, so why am I being singled out?"

The dispute began weeks after Mrs Stamp and her husband, Ian, moved from Portsmouth into their new home in June.

They used the wheelie-bin left at the house at first but then received a letter from the council telling them to buy a new one. They complained to the council and refused to pay and Mr Stamp threatened to dump his rubbish on the steps of the town hall.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "We have investigated this matter thoroughly and the bin being used by the family is one of ours but our records do not show that it was bought from us.

"The system with new properties is that they have to buy their own wheelie bin. We feel this is fair and all homeowners are treated the same.

"We have no record of it being issued to them and if the builder has given it to the family no proof of purchase has been produced." Refusing to pay - Susan StampRef: J4108/8