An elderly couple who risked jail by refusing to pay the Olympic levy on their council tax has paid up.

Tom and Rita Glenister, from Barnet, held back £33.35 from their annual bill for two years - on the principle that the whole of Britain would enjoy the games yet only Londoners had to pay from them.

'Unhappily' paid up

Hendon Magistrates' Court ordered the pensioners to cough up £1,091.66, including the £66 in Olympic arrears and court costs.

The pair had up until 2006 paid their £2,320 annual tax bill in full - and "unhappily" settled the disputed Olympic bill so as not to damage their son's future estate.

Londoners are paying £1bn out of a total £9.2bn to the 2012 games.

Mrs Glenister, 74, said before the court case she was prepared to go to prison over the issue.