The number of people applying to a council welfare fund shot up by 60% in East Lothian last month as hundreds more ask for help paying their bills.
The impact of the cost of living crisis on residents across the county was revealed in a finance report to councillors which revealed more than 1200 pleas for help were received in September.
The local authority said it paid out £103, 561 after receiving 732 applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund, compared to 460 during September last year which saw £58,422 paid out.
