MORE than 18,000 people have been taken to court in Wirral in the last 12 months after they failed to pay their council tax.

Wirral Council summonsed 18,663 residents between March 2014 and April 2015 after they failed to respond to reminders.

Despite the large number of people being taken to court, the cash-strapped authority told the Globe is does its utmost to support those who may be having difficulty in meeting payments by offering payment plans.

Last week, an anti-poverty campaigner who said millions of poor people could be getting unfair bills for costs run by local authority officials who take legal action against them for non-payment of council tax won a High Court fight.

Retired vicar Paul Nicolson took legal action after complaining that magistrates ruling on allegations of council tax non-payment were failing to check accuracy of costs bills said to have been run up by Labour-controlled London Borough of Haringey.

He complained that figures were being wrongly ''lumped on'' to legal costs bills and were a ''penalty'' unfairly imposed on the poor.

He also claimed the problem could be widespread.

Wirral Council said it can always issue a breakdown of costs. The breakdown is issued by request.

A spokesman for the local authority said: "Wirral Council has a duty to collect unpaid council tax, and we will always support residents who may be having difficulty in meeting payments with agreed payment plans.

“Local authorities can claim back some expenses as part of court fees, however the council does not profit from these fees as the amount charged is always less than the cost incurred, and we can provide a breakdown of these costs as required.

“We always work with residents to put payment plans in place, but where that is not an option, action through the courts is sometimes necessary.”