People in Yate and Chipping Sodbury have been urged not to open certain emails from local councils after some emails contained files that were not genuine.

The emails were received from Yate Town and Sodbury Town Council on Monday and residents have reported receiving subsequent emails from private individuals today with a similar link attached.

Anyone in receipt of the email that says: 'A named person' shared the folder 'folder name' with you' should not open the file or click any of the links in the email.

A spokesperson for Yate Town Council apologised for the situation and said: "If you have opened the link in this email, please contact your IT support, as our IT provider has advised us that this account has been spoofed."