Bradford Council is closing its five cash offices, where people can pay their council tax bills in person.

But members of the public will now be able to pay their bills in 250 local shops or Post Office branches instead.

Council bosses have said the cost-cutting plan will give more residents a place to pay nearer their homes.

The five cash offices to close are at Britannia House, Bingley Council Shop and the town halls at Keighley, Shipley and Ilkley.

Although people will no longer be able to go there to pay their council tax, business rates or other debts, or buy theatre tickets, the offices will remain open for people to get advice.

A date has not been set for the cash office closures, but the Council aims to redeploy all the staff affected – thought to be about a dozen people – to other roles within the organisation.

Under the new scheme, people will instead be able to pay their bills at their local post office or any of the 250 local shops that run the PayPoint scheme. They can bring in their bill, make the payment, and be given a receipt.

The Council hopes the closures will save £147,000 and reduce the large amounts of cash it has to move around the district.

It also hopes more people will choose to pay their bills through direct debit straight from their bank accounts.

Martin Stubbs, the Council’s assistant director for the revenues and benefits service said: “For many years the only option for those wishing to pay their council tax by cash was to go to a very limited number of cash offices.

“This new way to pay has greatly extended the number of places that people can pay. Also, because there are more than 250 outlets spread across the district, the vast majority of residents will live with in easy reach.”

Mr Stubbs said under Government reforms to the council tax benefits system, about 27,000 people across the district were expected to have to pay council tax for the first time this year, and the new PayPoints should make it more convenient for them.

And he said while people could buy theatre tickets from venues or online, the Council was considering whether it could use other buildings, such as libraries or swimming pools, to sell tickets too.