The number of times district bosses have resorted to bailiffs to collect debts has risen 16 per cent in two years, new figures have revealed.

A Freedom of Information request has shown that East Devon District Council (EDDC) passed unpaid debts to bailiffs 1,027 times during 2014/15.

But despite the increase, EDDC is one of the councils least likely to resort to baliffs.

The research, compiled by debt charity Money Advice Trust, shows that the increase is consistent with the picture nationally.

The charity says the research proves councils need to do more to help people before they get into debt, but EDDC says it only ever uses enforcement agents as a ‘last resort;’

Joanna Elson OBE, chief executive of the Money Advice Trust, said: “More than half of councils are using bailiffs even more than before to collect unpaid debts.

“Something is seriously wrong here. On the front line of debt advice, we know that sending the bailiffs in can deepen debt problems rather than solve them – and it can also have a severe impact on the wellbeing of people who are often already in a vulnerable situation.”

EDDC says residents receive several reminders and notices they owe money before enforcement agents are called in, and those who cannot pay in full are encouraged to contact the authority to discuss their debt.

The authority also funds an independent money advice agency to deal specifically with the cuts to welfare spending and for debt related matters.

An EDDC spokesperson said: “The council has taken many steps to support customers in debt prevention matters and to avoid cases having to be referred to an enforcement agent, which is reflected in the relatively low numbers that are being sent in comparison to other authorities.

“This has to be balanced against the fact that council tax is a statutory charge and a priority bill, and it is only fair to those that do pay council tax that we have measures in place to take action against those that don’t.”