Council tax and business rates dodgers across North Norfolk face a visit from the bailiffs as the district council tries to deal with nearly �500,000 worth of unpaid bills.

People owing money could face having goods and property seized unless efforts are made quickly to pay off the overdue sums.

From Monday November 22 teams of bailiffs will be visiting as many as 750 people who owe the council a total of �425,610 in council tax, despite having had four requests for payment.

About �147,751 of that is new debt accumulated this year. A further 58 business rates payers with a total debt value of �77,727 can also expect a visit.

The crackdown will go on for two weeks or more. People with outstanding debts are urged to contact the bailiff straight away to agree how and when they will pay back their debt though the bailiff may still need to visit their property to inspect any assets that can be used as security against the debt, said the council.

The bailiffs would have written to debtors in the past, so they would have contact details.

If the debtors did not make arrangements to pay, their goods or property seized during the crackdown would be sold at auction to help pay off their debt.

Councillor Peter Moore, cabinet member for resources, said: 'Debt is a worry for so many of us at times like these. But ignoring the problem won't make it go away, and deliberately not paying council tax or business rates means you are hurting others by withholding money that would be spent on local services — services that support the whole community, and its most vulnerable people in particular.

'People who are having difficulties making their payments can get help. You can get independent and confidential advice from the Citizens' Advice Bureau, and you can always talk to the Council about benefits, discounts and exemptions to help lighten the load of council tax or business rates,' he added.