Two Medway residents have been jailed after failing to pay their council tax.

Trudy Pack, 46, of Keyes Avenue in Chatham was given 42 days behind bars after failing to keep up her payments - she owed nearly £,2500.

Stephen Gotts, 52, of Jeyes Road in Gillingham was jailed for 43 days after failing to pay just over £1,500.

Pack has now been taken to HMP Bronzefield in Middlesex to serve her sentence, after magistrates heard her council tax bill dated back to 2001.

Gotts appeared before Medway magistrates on Monday after failing to comply with a previous order.

He had paid £50 since January 2008, but failed to maintain his payments.

He will serve his sentence at Elmley prison on the Isle of Sheppey.

Medway Council’s Finance Portfolio Holder Cllr Alan Jarrett said: “These prosecutions sends a clear message to everyone that Medway Council will not tolerate council tax evasion."