Aberdeenshire Council’s phone lines and face-to-face offices will be closed at 4pm on Friday 24 December, and Friday 31 December.

They will also be closed during the public holidays on Monday 27 December and Tuesday 28 December, and Monday 3 January and Tuesday 4 January.

Normal opening hours for the council’s Customer Services team are 8:45am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Phone numbers and office details can be found at: www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/contact-us/contact-by-phone/

In the event of an emergency, call the numbers below. Out-of-hours emergency service is available 5pm to 8:45am weekdays, and all weekend. If the emergency or crisis is life-threatening, call 999. If worried about someone who is ill, call NHS 24 on 111.

• Housing repairs: 03456 081203
• Homelessness: 03456 081206
• Social work: 03456 081206

Lastly, household bin collections will continue on the public holidays (27 and 28 December and 3 and 4 January, however there may be a disruption in some areas.

If your bin is not emptied over the festive period, it will be collected on the next due collection date for that particular bin.

Please do not put recyclable materials in black bags. The Waste Service encourages everyone to continue recycling as much as possible, including using the green caddy for all food waste.

Additional recycling can be dispose of at the local household recycling centre.

All household recycling centres will close at 3pm on Christmas Eve and Hogmanay and there are some changes to operating times – check your local site arrangements here: https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/…/household-waste…/