More than 12,000 residents have had their council tax collected almost a week early due to an "internal processing error" at East Renfrewshire Council.

As a result direct debit payments that were due on December 28 were collected on Friday instead.

The local authority apologised "unreservedly" and said it was investigating the error, which affected 12,880 people.

And it reassured residents that their tax would not be collected again next week.

An East Renfrewshire Council spokesman said: "Regrettably an error was made in processing the date for some council tax payments, resulting in some being collected early.

"This only affected residents whose council tax payments are collected on the 28th of each month.

"As soon as this was identified we took steps to notify residents."

The council confirmed any bank charges incurred by residents will be reimbursed.