A CODE of conduct for bailiffs is being drawn up in Hyndburn - a year after a vulnerable Accrington man died during a bailiff call.

Councillors said a public discussion of rules governing bailiffs would ensure Hyndburn residents were aware of their rights, should they find themselves in a similar situation to 78-year-old Andy Miller.

The former landlord suffered a heart attack in Accrington Town Centre last January after a Blackpool-appointed bailiff drove him to a cash point over an unpaid speeding fine for an offence committed on the M55.

Despite Mr Miller’s family writing to Blackpool magistrates with news of his heart condition, magistrates authorised bailiffs to visit his India Street home and added £290 court costs to the original £60 fine.

If adopted, Hyndburn’s proposed code, which would be used to oversee council tax recovery, bans bailiffs from removing goods from anyone classed as vulnerable, such as people over 75, without prior checks.

The list of vulnerable cases also includes elderly people under 75 if they appear frail or confused, the mentally impaired, severely disabled people, recently bereaved households, heavily pregnant women and houses where English is not spoken or understood.

Mr Miller's nephew Steve Flanigan said he welcomed an open debate on the issue but had some concerns.

He said: “It should be all out in the open and many bodies hold these sort of talks behind closed doors, so this is a good direction to take.

"I do have some concerns the code is too specific though, for example I would rather all pensioners were included, rather than a specific age range.”

Coun Marlene Howarth, who oversees the issue, said: “The council has always had a strict code of conduct for appointed bailiffs, but we felt an open debate and vote was necessary with the updated rules this year.

"People in the borough who are having money troubles can view the report as a public document, in plain English and will be more aware of their rights.

“The code is very thorugh and as we saw last year it is an extremely important issue and must be treated seriously.”

Councillors are due to vote on the code of conduct at an upcoming meeting of the cabinet.