TENS of thousands living in some of Scotland’s poorest areas are facing a council tax “bombshell,” according to Scottish Labour.

Labour local government spokesman Mark Griffin made the claim as the SNP-Green Scotttish government face a £1bn black hole in their finances next year and many councils stand on the brink of financial collapse.

A Scottish government document put out for consultation last month hinted that the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) and the Scottish government were considering more flexibility on council tax bands, which could mean increases for band E and above of between 7.7 per cent and 22.5 per cent.