COUNCIL house tenants have an extra incentive to get their rent accounts up to date.

Sedgefield Borough Council's housing department is urging tenants with arrears to make the most of non payment weeks by still paying their rent to reduce the amount outstanding.

Those with up to date rent accounts by April 11 will be entered in to a prize draw for four tickets to Sunderland Empire Theatre.

Annually tenants have five rent free weeks during summer, Christmas and New Year and the first week of the financial year.

The week of April 7 is a non payment week for tenants, and area housing manager, Janice Hall, said: "Anyone owing rent can use non payment weeks to pay as normal and it will cut arrears straight away.

"We are urging all tenants who owe rent to continue to pay as normal to help cut their debt.

"We want to reward tenants who pay their rent on time, and we hope this incentive will also encourage anyone who owes rent to pay a little extra each week to help catch up."

The total amount of money currently owed to Sedgefield Borough Council is £338,392 which could be used to fund repairs, improvements and other services.

Tenants who refuse to pay rent face eviction.