Angry residents have condemned a council decision to issue arrears notices to householders who are 14 days late with their council tax payments, instead of waiting until 30 days have passed.

Residents in Brighton and Hove, who were not told about the changes, were stunned when they received payment reminders through the post.

Pete Nichols, 60, of Montpelier Street, said: "It strikes me as desperate. The council is obviously looking to collect more money.

"By not telling people of the change in procedures it is cynically ensuring lots of taxpayers will receive arrears notices.

"They will then have no cushion if they have a difficult month later in the year."

Residents are allowed two reminders for late payments every financial year.

If a subsequent instalment is missed, a court summons is automatically issued.

Labour councillors said the change was part of the Conservative administration's tightening up of the financial system.

Councillor Les Hamilton, Labour spokesman for finance, said: "It's not something I really comprehend or understand.

"It's giving people less time to manage their own finances and pay their bills.

"In this current economic situation, we should be making some form of allowance and not chasing unpaid bills less than three weeks from the start of the financial year."

Brighton and Hove City Council is ranked among the most stringent of local authorities in the country for collecting unpaid council tax.

Last year it issued 17,231 court summonses, making it the 15th strictest out 172 district and unitary councils in England and Wales.

A spokesman for the council said: "Eastbourne, Hastings, Portsmouth and many other councils issue reminders after 14 days.

"By giving more timely reminders, we are encouraging customers to contact us and tell us their circumstances so we can help them.

"We promote the uptake of council tax benefit for those customers on low incomes and we can offer a flexible range of payment options so they can spread the load.

"Overall the approach we are taking is designed to help customers to pay their tax liability in the most convenient way without the stress of falling into arrears."