PEOPLE in the Stroud district are being encouraged to sign up in the next three weeks to receive their council tax bills by email instead of in the post.

Cllr Geoff Wheeler, leader of Stroud District Council, said today: “Currently over 4,000 households have signed up to receive their bills by email and we know that nowadays many people would prefer to receive them electronically rather than by post.

"Receiving a bill by email will be much more convenient for many people and at the same time reduce unnecessary costs and our impact on the environment as we will be able to reduce the number of billing packs we send out in the post.”

Anyone wishing to receive their bill by email should email ebilling@stroud.gov.uk with their name and address and Council Tax account number if known, by February 20.

There are currently 51,562 households in the district. Figures from the Office of National Statistics for 2014 show that 84 per cent of households in Great Britain have internet access.