SPECIAL rent squads will be sent into action in the fight to recoup huge council house rent arrears.

Housing bosses say it's time to get tough and have appointed a team of debt collection agencies with the sole job of tracking down money owed by past tenants.

Bosses have refused to disclose the current level of rent arrears, claiming it is "commercially sensitive" information.

However, the Bury Times revealed last December that rent arrears had rocketed in recent years. Existing tenants owed £846,671, while the amount owed by 3,800 former tenants had shot up by 50 per cent to £932,734.

Councillor John Smith, housing spokesman, said the new teams would supplement but not replace legal action through the courts.

"There are families and individuals who struggle to make ends meet and we are always sympathetic to those difficulties and try to help," he said.

"However, there is still a minority who choose to abuse the system and it is those we are now targeting."

Coun Smith said that more than 600 cases had been referred to collection agencies.

He warned tenants who default on their rent that County Court judgements would make it harder for them to gain credit through a bank or catalogue.

Also, they would jeopardise their chances of being housed by the council in the future.

Coun Smith said the council had run several campaigns to make sure that tenants claimed their rightful benefits.

He added: "We will try and negotiate payments rather than consider legal action but we want to make it clear that we are prepared to take whatever steps are necessary to recover debts."

Tenants wishing to discuss payments should call 0161 253 6039.