Councils must tighten up cyber security after one fell victim to an online scam losing £9,000, a watchdog has warned. The message came from the Auditor General for Wales which investigated how Harlech Community Council came to lose the taxpayers’ money.

The watchdog found “serious failures in governance and financial management” at Harlech, according to the report released today. The council is made up of 12 councillors who are responsible for managing the money it raises, and spends around £100,000 a year to provide local services.