An attempt to take furniture from a popular Indian restaurant to retrieve funds for a controversial business levy has been defended ‘as a last resort’ by Waltham Forest council.

Bailiffs contracted by the council were successful in retrieving £835 from Shah Ahmed, owner of the Star of India in High Road, Leytonstone who had refused to pay the E11 Bid Company until Wednesday morning.

Mr Ahmed was one of 33 traders who were handed liability orders, forcing them to pay the private company at Waltham Forest Magistrates Court in May.

The restaurant owner said the bailiffs intimidated him into handing over the cash when they started to take his tables and chairs.

The levy collected is used by E11 Bid to improve the look of the area and attract more trade, but Mr Ahmed claims that shop-owners in Leytonstone weren't receiving the required level of service.

Today, a council spokesman insisted the council was ‘only a collection agency’ for the private company and all payments are passed on to E11 Bid.

He said: “It is with great regret that we have to carry out enforcement action, but this is very much a last resort.

“We attempt to work with levy payers to agree a suitable repayment plan at every stage of the process, and everyone who receives a reminder or summons is made aware of the possible action if payment is not received.”