PAYMENTS have been taken early from residents' accounts after a mistake by Stroud District Council.

Council tax and business rate payments due to be debited on December 28 and January 1 have already been debited.

Stroud District Council has apologised and says it will refund any bank charges.

Customers charged by their banks need to send copies of the letter and bank statement confirming the amount.

These can be emailed to revenue.services@stroud.gov.uk, handed in at Ebley Mill, or posted.

Customers with direct debits due to go out on Sunday, January 1 will have their payments taken in error tomorrow (Dec 28).

A spokesman from the council said: "To prevent your account going into the red, we will be crediting it by the same amount the day before (December 27). "Your January payment will then be collected as normal on Tuesday, January 3.

"We apologise sincerely for this and thank you for your understanding."

For any enquiries email Stroud District Council at revenue.sevices@stroud.gov.uk or call 01453 754865 from January 3.