ALMOST 5,000 hard-up households in a borough are set to get reduced council tax bills this week.

Hyndburn Council has now set up a new IT system to recalculate the charge to take account of coronavirus.

The cash comes from a £500million nationwide government fund to allow local authorities to discount council tax bills for 2020/21because of Covid-19.

Economically vulnerable people and households in Hyndburn will see a £150 reduction in the new bill.

There is no need to make a claim for the extra reductions which will be made automatically in the new bills which will start being issued today.

Any cash left over will be used to provide extra financial support to hard-up households in the borough including people affected by COVID-19 applying for Universal Credit.

Council Leader, Cllr Miles Parkinson OBE, said; “Our Council Tax Support team has worked tirelessly with our software suppliers to provide this reduction to around 4,800 households in the borough and new bills are due to be issued from Tuesday 28 July 2020.”

Those who pay council tax by direct debit will not need to make any changes. The reduction applies to this year only.

Council tax bills are due to return to normal next year