AN appeal has been lodged against a Scots council's £250,000 fine after employee pension records were found in an over-filled paper recycling bank.

More than 800 files containing salary and bank details, as well as other personal information, were discovered by a member of the public in the car park of a Midlothian supermarket.

Scottish Borders Council paid the penalty instantly to receive a 20% discount and sacked the contractor responsible. But it has appealed against the ruling by the Information Commissioner's Office and a hearing will be held on March 22.