Bolton Council is the 14th worst in the North-west when it comes to collecting council tax, a new survey has revealed.

Government figures show that 4.1 per cent of council tax payers in the borough do not pay up within one year of receiving their bills.

The council came 14th in a table of all 43 boroughs in the region which are responsible for collecting bills, compiled from figures by the Audit Commission.

Manchester performed worst in the table with 10.4 per cent of council tax going uncollected while Eden in Cumbria came top with just 0.6 per cent.

But Steve Arnfield, director of finance at Bolton Council, said the borough had a good record considering its areas of deprivation. He said that 99 per cent of all council tax bills were eventually paid.

Mr Arnfield added: "You cannot compare Bolton to leafy boroughs in Cheshire and we are collecting more than the average for Metropolitan boroughs, which is 95 per cent. Our record is as good as any council in the country.

"The level of deprivation here means it is much more difficult to collect council tax but we are improving year on year."

The table was drawn up by the GMB union to highlight the problems caused to councils by people not paying up.

Paul Hoggarth, the union's senior public services organiser, said: "Councillors in the worst performing areas need to get their finger out to put a stop to inefficiency and cheating.

"The loss of revenue leads to poorer services, less jobs and poorer terms and conditions of employment for direct and contract staff."