CHESHIRE East Council will run data checks to see if incorrect tax discounts have been made.

All households in the borough claiming a single person’s discount off their council tax bill will be checked for authenticity to find instances where incorrect awards have been made.

CEC will start by checking whether people live alone by cross-referencing with other sources about their household such as electoral roll registers and financial sector information.

Cllr Paul Bates, CEC cabinet member for finance and communities, said: “We will be contacting all those we believe to be claiming incorrectly.

“In the meantime I urge anyone who is claiming the discount and whose circumstances have changed to contact us immediately.

“Even if you were living alone when you received your bill, we will need to re-calculate the amount you need to pay if another adult is living with you now.”

A 25 per cent discount, worth a minimum of £250 per year, is given to anyone who claims to be living in a property on their own.

People failing to respond to two written requests for further information will have their claim withdrawn from the beginning of the current financial year or the date the discount was applied.

For more information visit the council tax section at cheshireeast.gov.uk or call 0300 123 5013.