The taxman is turning up the heat on Kent plumbing industry workers who have failed to get their affairs in order.

Gas fitters and heating engineers will also be also be in the HMRC spotlight.

Tradesmen in these three categories were offered a special tax plan in March this year, giving them the chance to own up to any unpaid tax.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) says that it has been gathering information to open investigations into hundreds of people who have failed to come forward. Defaulters can face criminal prosecution.

Under the Plumbers Tax Safe Plan (PTSP), plumbers, gas fitters, heating engineers and members of associated trades who owed tax that they had not declared faced a penalty rate from 10 per cent up to a maximum of 20 per cent. They had until August 31 to arrange for payment.

HMRC says it has left the PTSP disclosure route open for those with unpaid tax who still wish to come forward, although they may not receive exactly the same terms as under the plumbers' plan. Mike Wells, HMRC's director of risk and intelligence, said 600 investigations were already under way to target people in the plumbing industry and more would follow.

You can disclose unpaid tax and make arrangements to pay:

Online at www.hmrc.gov.uk/plumberstaxsafeplan

Ring HMRC on 0845 600 4507.