BAILIFFS were sent to remove property from the home of a couple - after an administrative error with their Council Tax.

Elaine Perry and her partner Brendan Shaw are now demanding a written apology from Bolton Council.

They are furious that despite having always paid their bills on time they were targeted by debt recovery units.

And Miss Shaw, of Queensgate, off Chorley New Road, is livid that the council only admitted their mistake after she spent an hour-and-a-half on the phone convincing members of the customer service team that her bill was up-to-date.

Council bosses have since offered the couple a verbal apology and put it down to an error which had prevented their latest payment from showing up on their account.

The couple pay around £83 a month for their band D two-storey terraced home where they have lived for the past 18 months. Bailiffs called at the house last week leaving a card behind warning they would be back.

Insurance broker Miss Shaw, aged 28, said: "We always pay our council tax on time. I was terrified they would call back when I was alone in the house and that I wouldn't be able to stop them taking our things.

"At first the council operator wasn't prepared to look into it - but I checked with my bank and the money had come out.

"I just want an official explanation of what happened and a written apology from a senior employee for the way in which I have been treated."

If a householder fails to keep up with monthly council tax payments and respond to reminders, they are usually given at least 21 days to pay the full amount for the year.

After this, if the money has still not been paid, an order can be requested from the Magistrates Court to take it directly from earnings or benefit. It is only if this fails that bailiffs are supposed to be called in. A spokesperson for Bolton Council said the couple's account had now been corrected.

She said: "Their account was up-to-date but, unfortunately, due to an administrative error, their latest payment did not show on their account and as a result their balance outstanding was referred to the bailiff."