The nine biggest council tax debtors in Oxford have until Tuesday to pay up -- or face bankruptcy proceedings.

The city council is chasing a total debt of £90,000, owed by nine people, and has issued all of them with personal demands for payment.

Failure to comply with the demand and settle the debt will mean the council will start bankruptcy proceedings against the individuals in the courts.

It is the first time the authority has considered such a move, and it could ultimately mean properties are seized and sold off to pay back money owed.

The tough line comes after the council was told to improve its record of council tax collection.

Paul Warters, the city council's revenues and benefits manager, said: "All the statutory demands have been sent out and the deadline for payment is next week

"One person has already paid in full and we are in discussions with some of the others.

"We are confident we will recover the money, but if these people don't pay by the deadline we will commence bankruptcy proceedings through the courts.

"If someone is declared bankrupt the official receiver gets involved and it is possible that properties could be sold to pay off debts.

"Once people are declared bankrupt it is very difficult to get a bank account or credit in the future."

Today, trades union GMB released a league table of the worst council tax collection authorities in the South East.

The figures show there is still £2m still waiting to be collected for bills issued in 2003/04.

Oxford City Council is currently rated a "weak" authority.

Council tax collection is one of the services against which Government inspectors measure local authorities' performance.