Thirteen Hyndburn councillors have failed to pay their council tax on time, it has emerged.

A Freedom of Information request revealed that 13 members of the council have failed to pay their bills on time at some point over the last five years.

The members have not been identified, nor is it known if they are still serving councillors.

Demands have been made for those involved to be ‘named and shamed’. However, the council has said it cannot release further details due to “data protection”.

Coun Paul Thompson, chairman of Hyndburn United Kingdom Indepence Party, called for the main party leaders to step in and explain members’ actions.

He said: “If this had happened in my group then I would want people to come forward and admit it and their leaders should give an explanation.

“In some cases there may be genuine reasons, but actions like this undermine the principles of the council.”

Conservative group leader councillor Peter Britcliffe said that he had spoken to his members and was satisfied that all current serving Conservative councillors were up to date with their council tax.

Coun Britcliffe said: “I can imagine people are upset about this, councillors do have to set an example.

“But I can reassure people that I am satisfied that all my current councillors are up to date with their council tax.”

Labour council leader Miles Parkinson would not discuss individual cases, but said that councillors need to be kept up to date on their own council tax in order to get a vote on the council’s budget.

He said: “I have not spoken to Labour members about this.

“All individuals across the borough will have personal circumstances in their lives that may affect council tax payment that they can discuss with the council.

“Whether it is council tax or business rates or market rent, whatever it is bills will be looked at and addressed by the council.”

A council spokesman said: “Between 2009 and 2014, 13 members of Hyndburn Borough Council failed to pay their council tax on time.

“Releasing further information would contravene the Data Protection Act.”

John O’Connell, director of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Taxpayers who have received a demand letter from the council will find it a bit cheeky that some of the politicians themselves are not paying up on time.

“If even councillors can’t pay their council tax bills, perhaps it shows that the rates are too high.”

Readers also took to the Observer Facebook page to vent their anger.

Dean Wainwright said: “They should be named, shamed and denied permission to re-stand.”

Philip Da Silva said: “Absolutely disgusting, they are supposed to set a good example to the rest of us.”

Faye Cook-Ridge said: “Name and shame, never mind the Data Protection Act, how about in the public’s interest