Protest at tax rebel vicar's jail

Ridley and his wife Una refused to settle their council tax bill

Pensioners have demonstrated outside a prison in which a 71-year-old retired vicar is being held for refusing to settle his council tax bill.

Alfred Ridley, of Towcester, Northants, is serving a 28-day sentence at Woodhill Prison in Milton Keynes.

Ridley was jailed by Towcester magistrates on 7 September for ignoring a court order to pay the arrears.

One of the tax protesters, Sylvia Hardy from Exeter, who also faces jail for non-payment, paid a visit to Ridley.

Speaking just before her prison visit Ms Hardy, a retired social worker, said: "It will be nice to give him a big hug and say 'Well done Alfred'.

"It will be interesting to ask Alfred how he has coped and if he has any tips for me so that time won't drag."

Jail warning

Ms Hardy, a member of the Devon Pensioners Action Forum, is due at Heavitree Magistrates Court in Exeter on Monday for refusing to pay her council tax bills for last year.

The 73-year-old has already been warned she can expect a seven day prison sentence.

Ms Hardy said she was apprehensive about Monday but she had to make a stand.

"It won't be the worst thing I have ever gone through, because I got bombed out of my home in the Exeter blitz," she added.

Not liable for payment

Ridley, a retired former Church of England clergyman, was jailed for ignoring a court order that he repay £691 in arrears to his local authority.

He had been given a suspended sentence in July but refused to comply with the court order to repay the money.

The dispute arose when the council announced it was increasing its annual tax by 8.5% in one go. Ridley and his wife Una refused to pay a rise above the rate of inflation.

South Northamptonshire Council have said that when he is released he will not be liable for the money.