BOURNEMOUTH Council mistakenly sent out 1,653 council tax demands early.

Residents were shocked to get the final notice letters last week – and the council is apologising.

Darren Vickers, operations manager at Bournemouth Council, said: “Unfortunately a number of notices referring to the October council tax payment were mistakenly printed and sent out with the correct notices regarding late September payments.

“This should not have occurred and as such we are issuing letters of apology to all residents concerned and have, of course, removed these final notices from their accounts.

“We regret any distress and inconvenience this error may have caused residents.”