Council tax pensioner gets award

Miss Rooney said her street is blighted with litter

A 69-year-old Derby woman facing jail after refusing to pay her council tax has won a national award for looking after her community.

Josephine Rooney owes Derby City Council nearly £800 and refuses to pay because, in her view, the council has failed in its duty of care to her.

Miss Rooney has now won a Taking a Stand award from the Government's Respect campaign.

She has been summonsed to appear before magistrates later in the month.

Miss Rooney stopped payments to Derby City Council in December 2004 and owes £798.97 to the authority.

The pensioner has said she is fed up with litter, antisocial behaviour and disrepair of properties in the Hartington Street area.

She and the Hartington Area Residents' Committee have won the award for the work they have done in their community.