Finances are less taxing for winners

SIX residents of Edinburgh have been given a year's exemption from council tax.

The city council ran a prize draw for people who signed up to pay their bill by direct debit.

It was designed to encourage use of the payment method, which is cheaper to administer than other methods.

More than 11,500 new customers have signed up to direct debits this year and the amount received in that form has increased by nearly 11 million.

Councillor Phil Wheeler, finance and resources convener, said:

"Judging by the great increase in the number of people paying by direct debit, this hassle-free approach is certainly appreciated by our customers."

The council plans to run the competition again next year and any existing or new customers that have signed up to pay by direct debit will automatically be entered into the free prize draw.