I will go to prison if that is what it takes

The first council tax protester to stand for election says she expects to serve her term out in full, despite facing a possible jail sentence.

Retired social worker Sylvia Hardy, a member of the Devon Pensioners Action Forum, is widely expected to secure the Exeter city seat for the St David's and Pennsylvania ward, in the byelection being held later today.

The election comes just a day after Ms Hardy was in court for outstanding arrears in council tax, after refusing to pay her bill in full in protest at last year's 18% locally set increase.

Ms Hardy left the court with a liability order issued by the magistrates, which requires her to repay ?91.28 in unpaid council tax. Failure to do so will lead to bailiffs removing her property to the equivalent sum.

But Ms Hardy said she intends to sit tight and see the situation through to its logical conclusion, which could involve a jail term for non-payment.

Yet she remains sanguine that this possible turn of events will not preclude her from representing her ward. If she is elected, she will have 15 months' tenure before the next round of elections in May 2005.

Ms Hardy reiterated her unwavering stance to hold back an element of her council tax.

"Disqualifications only relate to a person standing if they have received a prison sentence of three months or more," she said. "I am pretty sure that if it comes to a prison sentence it won't be that long.

"I am quite prepared to go to prison if that is what it takes. I am the best person to take this stand because I have no family to upset, whereas others do."

Exeter city council confided its concerns over Ms Hardy's intentions, which could force another byelection within months if Ms Hardy's optimism over a short jail term is not borne out.

"If she gets a jail term she will have to withdraw and we will have to have another byelection", an Exeter city council spokeswoman sighed.

Ms Hardy denounced the way groups such the way groups such as the British National Party and the UK Independence party were piggybacking on the council tax protesters' cause, which she fears may damage the single issue campaign.

She was cautiously optimistic about her chances at the ballot box, insisting she planned to champion other causes that affect the local community. "People have said they are glad they have an additional choice this time," she said.

"There are local issues I and many other Exonians have been concerned about for a long time, such as the high increases in allowances that councillors are awarding themselves."