Dacorum Borough Council has introduced a faster way to deal with residents’ phone calls and queries.

From Monday, December 9, callers will be connected to an automated service that will be able to deal with enquiries and transactions quickly, at all hours of the day and night, seven days a week.

There will still be an option to speak to a member of staff during office hours between 8am and 6pm.

Shane Flynn, Assistant Director Performance and Projects at Dacorum Borough Council, said: "We know that when our customers phone us they want to be answered quickly, they want their business dealt with efficiently and they want us to be here when it's convenient for them.

"This is an important part of our plans to transform and improve our services for all our customers whilst making the most effective use of Council Tax. The service we are using is a tried and tested one that has produced big savings for the other local authorities that have used it."