Fewer households are benefitting from a reduction in their council tax bills, latest figures show.

According to Scotland’s Chief Statistician, 18,010 people in Renfrewshire received a discount in September, while the total for East Renfrewshire was 4,240.

This is down in both council areas from the July totals, which stood at 18,110 in Renfrewshire and 4,280 in East Renfrewshire.

The amount of income forgone by Renfrewshire Council through council tax reduction in September was £251,500, while the figure for East Renfrewshire was £69,600.

Across Scotland as a whole, the council tax reduction scheme supported 471,790 households in September.

The number of people in Scotland receiving a reduction in their council tax bills in September was around 15 per cent less than at the beginning of the scheme in April 2013.

The report from Scotland’s Chief Statistician states: “Generally, the decline in the number of recipients has been gradual over this period.