NEARLY 200 campaigners united in Bolton at the weekend against the vicious bedroom tax. 

The lively rally included a contribution from Johnny Hilton, whose father Michael has been in prison for four months awaiting sentence after being arrested at his home when bailiffs arrived to evict him for bedroom tax arrears in June.

Mr Hilton, 53, has a history of mental illness.

He pleaded guilty to criminal damage caused while trying to break through the roof of his home of 33 years to escape police and bailiffs. He will be sentenced at Burnley Crown Court on Thursday.

His son Johnny spoke of the “iniquity” of the bedroom tax which has left him and his father homeless.

Chris Chiltern of Bolton Against Bedroom Tax, which organised the rally, said: “Today was about publicising the inequality of the bedroom tax and the impact it is having on people’s lives.

“There’s a common perception that those affected are ‘scroungers’ or lazy.

“However, 70 per cent of those affected are disabled. These people are being made to choose between food, heating and rent.

“This legislation should be abolished.”

And the campaigners also held a minute’s silence for murdered volunteer aid worker Alan Henning during their rally in Bolton on Saturday.

Mr Henning lived in nearby Eccles in Salford, Greater Manchester. He was executed by Islamic State extremists.

A petition against the tax signed by 4,000 people was handed to local councillors.