SCOTLAND’S councils are under “unprecedented” pressure as they face more than half a billion pounds of cuts while demand for their services continues to grow, according to the country’s public finance watchdog.

The Accounts Commission’s latest report identified a “funding gap” in Scottish local government of £585 million next year, rising to £780m by 2026-27, as councils face what it called “unprecedented financial and service demand pressures.”

It calls on the SNP Scottish government and the the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) to work together to build a new fiscal framework for councils to put them on a secure footing after more than a decade of cuts.

Scottish Labour’s local government spokesman Mark Griffin said: “The stark report lays bare the huge pressure councils across Scotland are under.”

He called on the Scottish government to “stop inflicting brutal cuts” on councils, saying: “For years the SNP has hollowed out council budgets and lifeline services across the country have been cut to the bone as a result.”

SNP finance and local government secretary Shona Robison said the Scottish government has made available record funding of over £14 billion to local councils this year.