A fund set up to help those in need underspent by £1.5 million in the last financial year, according to new figures.

Grants totalling £35.8 million were awarded through the Scottish Welfare Fund in 2014-15, amounting to 96% of the available £37.3 million.

The pot included £4.3 million carried forward from the previous year, when only 88% of the available cash was spent.

Applications increased by a quarter in the last year, attributed to a greater awareness of the fund after a slow initial take up.

The latest figures show nine councils went over their allocations by a total of £500,000 by supplementing spending from their own funds, while the remaining local authorities underspent by £2 million.

Dundee City Council spent 113% of its budget while Aberdeen City and Highland council areas spent just over 100%.

Shetland spent less than half of its funds, while Orkney and Aberdeenshire spent less than 70%.

The fund was launched by the Scottish Government in April 2013 to replace community care grants and crisis loans, which were abolished by the UK Government under its welfare reform programme.

Since the scheme began, more than 150,000 households, including around 50,000 families with children, have been helped.

In the latest year, councils awarded £28.4 million in community care grants, which aim to help people live independently.

Over the same period £7.4 million was paid out in crisis grants, the majority for emergency food and energy costs.

A total of 69,000 households received crisis grants while community care grants were paid out to 43,000 households.

Around half of the grants were awarded to applicants living in the most deprived areas of Scotland.

Welfare Minister Margaret Burgess said: "These grants are a vital lifeline for people in crisis with more than 150,000 households benefiting from a share of the £65 million Scottish Welfare Fund.

"It is helping people in desperate situations buy everyday items like food, shoes and beds, and keeping them afloat during worrying times.

"The Scottish Government will continue to work with councils to publicise this scheme and reach those who are struggling to be able to afford items that many of us take for granted."

Councillor Harry McGuigan, community and well-being spokesman for local government body Cosla, said: "There is a growing number of people using the fund to buy the most basic of items like food, beds and cookers.

"Councils and the advice sector make sure those in need know where to get this vital help.

"Given the planned social security cuts, the fund will come under considerable pressure as more people require help over the next few years."