THE direct debit mistake that hit Malvern Hills District Council clients last week has so far cost about £1,100 to put right.

Some 1,400 people, users of Worcestershire Telecare or the MHDC business waste service, had 100 times the normal amount taken from their accounts.

Peter Gillett, the council's finance director, said: "About £400 of that relates to posting letters out to people about the problem.

"The remaining £700 is reimbursement of bank charges. That relates to about 25 people whose applications for compensation we have received so far."

He said the council was still open to claims for reimbursement.

"There might still be people who haven't yet had their bank statements and don't know if they've suffered any loss," he said.

He said quite a number of people had thanked the council for the speed with which it tackled the problem.