Hounslow Council is encouraging residents to pay their Council Tax by direct debit and has offered locals the chance to win a five-figure sum in a draw.

Those who already pay by DD will be automatically entered into the scheme which involves sixteen London boroughs.

The prize draw for the £25,000 will be held in July. Hounslow Council teamed-up with Bacs Payment Schemes Limited (Bacs), the not-for-profit organisation behind Direct Debit, to offer council tax payers a chance to win the sum.

Hounslow Council is one of 16 London boroughs taking part in the campaign, with those living in Barnet, Brent, City of Westminster, Ealing, Enfield, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark and Tower Hamlets all eligible for entry into the draw.

Hounslow residents simply need to switch to pay their council tax by Direct Debit before 5pm on 11 July 2014, either by returning a completed Direct Debit Instruction form by post, signing-up to Direct Debit online at www.hounslow.gov.uk/directdebit, or calling 0845 30 10 210 to arrange over the phone. Those who already pay their council tax by Direct Debit will automatically be entered into the prize draw.

Cllr Sue Sampson, cabinet member for performance and customer care at the council, said:

“Council tax bills have recently been sent out and we’re encouraging as many people as possible to be in with a chance of winning the £25,000 prize by switching to the ease of Direct Debit. For those residents who already pay this way, don’t worry as you will go into the draw automatically.”

Dawneth Perry, Bacs’ local authority specialist, commented: “The campaign is now entering its fifth year and has proved hugely successful since launching in 2010, helping to deliver cost savings in excess of £1.5 million for participating local authorities over that time."

Last year’s £25,000 prize was won by a North Kensington resident, Salvatore Rullo. This year’s winner will be drawn on 17 July 2014. For more information on the free prize draw and how to sign up to Direct Debit visit www.directdebit.co.uk/londoncounciltax.