Hyndburn has the second highest rate of bailiff use in the country for chasing up council tax debts, new figures have revealed.

The figures show that more than 7,000 bailiff referrals were made in Hyndburn last year, an average of 201 for every 1,000 households, the highest rate in Lancashire and the second highest in England.

The report, commissioned by the Children’s Society and compiled from responses by councils to Freedom of Information requests, also showed that 1,295 families in the borough are in council tax debt, hitting more than 2,300 children.

Conservative group leader Coun Peter Britcliffe condemned the figures as “dreadful”.

He added: “I think more needs to be done to advise people and help them to not get into debt in the first place. I think some compassion needs to be shown and people need more advice than they’re being given.”

Hyndburn council leader Coun Miles Parkinson said bailiff use should be a last resort and said communication with the council was important for residents.

He said: “The advice to any resident is to speak to us, there are a number of different ways you can pay, just like with a mortgage or rent, if you’re having financial problems, speak to us. Advice is available to everyone, but the most important thing is not to stick your head in the sand and wait for the bailiffs or summons. The council can come to an agreement with you.”

Pauline Duckworth, the council’s head of benefits and revenues, said: “Maximising the collection of Council Tax whilst working to safeguard any vulnerable groups is very important to us as an authority.

“Our referrals to Enforcement Agents for the recovery of Council Tax are only made where no other avenue is available, such as payment arrangements, attachment from benefits, attachment from earnings, or when the customer has not engaged with us on receipt of their council tax bill.”

Matthew Reed, chief executive of The Children’s Society, said: “Our report reveals that far too many families are failed by their council when they fall behind with their council tax. Councils are more likely to refer a family in council tax debt to a bailiff than to an independent debt advisor, which is not acceptable.

“Bailiffs should simply not be sent round to families with children.”