Council officials were left red-faced after sending an email to 5,000 people owed a council tax discount that said the exact opposite of what it was meant.

A spokesman for Oxford City Council said 5,179 people were emailed on Wednesday (October 4) telling them their application for a single-person council tax discount had been rejected.

In fact, those receiving the email were being offered the discount.

“The email was intended to convey that their discount had been approved, but regrettably, our software defaulted to providing the wrong confirmation link,” a council spokesman said.

Oxford Mail: Oxford City Council is based at the town hall Picture: Ed NixOxford City Council is based at the town hall Picture: Ed Nix (Image: Ed Nix)

The discount, knocking 25 per cent off the council tax bill, is available to those who live alone. It can be applied for online via the council's website. 

All those who were mistakenly told their application was rejected had been written to today (October 5), the council said.

A spokesman said: “We have contacted everyone affected to apologise and inform them that their single-person council tax discount review has been approved."

Were you among those affected? Tell us how you felt when you were told you were not eligible for the discount. Call the newsdesk on 01865 425422.