COMMUNITY leaders have vowed that a rates rebel from Droitwich Spa must pay her debts in fairness to other council taxpayers.

Wychavon District Council has ordered officers to take whatever action is considered necessary to make Nellie Copson pay up.

The 82-year-old was hauled before Droitwich Magistrates' Court, last week, facing a prison sentence for non-payment of £882 in business rates on her empty High Street shop.

In court, she revealed she had savings of £32,000 but escaped jail because of her age.

District Judge Philip Browning encouraged Wychavon to continue attempts to recoup the debt.

At a full council meeting, on Tuesday August 7, Wychavon leader Cllr Malcolm Meikle (Con, Elmley Castle) moved a recommendation that officers should take whatever action is necessary to recover Ms Copson's outstanding debt and any which may arise in the future.

This received cross-party support.

Cllr Meikle said: "Now the council's belief that Ms Copson has substantially more funds than she originally claimed has been confirmed, we have no option, in fairness to other ratepayers, but to continue to request payment."

This week, Ms Copson has submitted a planning application to Wychavon seeking permission to change the status of her building from retail to residential