Residents struggling to pay their council tax bills are being urged to reach out to Preston City Council to find out what support is available to them.

Reminder letters asking people to bring their payments up to date are due to be sent out soon, with the council urging those in financial difficulty to get in touch to see what help is available.

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Options including deferred payments or revised instalment plans are available to residents who have fallen behind with their payments.

Councillor Martyn Rawlinson, Cabinet Member for Resources and Performance at Preston City Council, said: “The coronavirus pandemic has created financial uncertainty for many people who may have lost their job, had their hours reduced or been placed on furlough.

“We want to support residents who are worried about paying their council tax bill and I’d urge anyone who finds themselves in this situation to contact our dedicated welfare benefits and debt advice teams immediately to see what options and support is available.”

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Council tax payments help to fund key services in the city including waste disposal, street cleaning and the upkeep of parks.

However, Preston City Council only receives 12% of council tax payments to spend on services in the city with the rest allocated to police, fire and rescue, and services provided by Lancashire County Council including education and social care.

Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines

Have you looked into the support available? Let us know in the comments below