TAX office staff are urging Warrington North MP Helen Jones to back them in their campaign opposing changes to the way debts are collected.

Employees at the Inland Revenue office in Barbauld Street are unhappy about plans to pass the job of seizing taxpayers possessions, to settle debts owed, to private bailiffs instead.

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), has written to Mrs Jones to ask her to support their calls for the plans to be dropped.

They claim private bailiffs would not deliver the quality of debt collection service which the public would expect.

Karen Clingan, PCS spokesman, said: "The Inland Revenue has decades of experience in handling difficult and sensitive calls to collect debt.

"This was vital during the foot-and-mouth crisis when the department's debt collectors were able to extend the customer's time to pay if necessary and give advice and guidance.

"The union fears that private bailiffs will drop this customer-focussed approach and rigidly enforce debt collection."

MP Mrs Jones said: "I had not received any communication from the PCS, but my office contacted them and they are going to send me details.

"If any of their Warrington North members would like to discuss the issues with me I would be happy to meet them at one of my surgeries."