Nearly 900,000 people who receive tax credits have just one week left to renew their claims or risk losing their payments.

Some 865,000 claimants have until July 31 to get their renewals in, otherwise their payments might end, HM Revenue and Customs warned.

For the first time, HMRC is offering people renewing their claims this year the option of doing so online, with around 300,000 people having done this so far.

They can do this either by going to the web page gov.uk/renewtaxcredits or by using the free HMRC app, which is available in the iTunes and Google Play stores. Claimants can still renew by post or over the phone by calling 0345 300 3900.

Last year, more than 650,000 people failed to renew on time.

HMRC recently released a list of bizarre excuses it has heard for missing the deadline, including: "I didn't need the money because I'd met a rich bloke, but he dumped me", "My dog ate the form" and: "The form was locked in the boot of my car, and then my car caught fire".

Tax credits are benefits that give extra money to people responsible for children, disabled workers and some other workers on lower incomes. Some people receive child tax credits, some get working tax credits and some receive both.

Renewal packs have been sent to 5.8 million people since April and claimants have been asked to act as soon as they receive a pack.

In these packs, HMRC asks claimants to check the accuracy of the information it holds about them, and to give information about any changes to their circumstances which they have not already reported, such as to their working hours, childcare costs or pay.

A portion of these 5.8 million people do not have to do anything as their claims will automatically renew because their circumstances have not changed for some time.

But just over three million of them have needed to get in touch with HMRC to confirm their circumstances. Out of this total, around 865,000 people have yet to make contact.

Nick Lodge, director-general of benefits and credits at HMRC, said: "Time is running out for people to renew their tax credits, or they risk losing their money.

"The majority of people can renew online this year, which is quick, easy and can be done at a time of day to suit them.

"However they choose to renew, the most important thing is to do it before 31 July."