New help centre for residents

A one-stop shop for sorting out many different problems in one place is being opened in Durham City.

Users will be able to pay bills, sort out benefit problems and get help with form fillling, and finding out what is going on in their area.

Durham's first Infocentre will be officially opened by mayor Ray Gibbon.

It is considered to be pioneering - providing a venue where local people can pay their bills or sort out benefit problems, get help with form filling and sort out any other concerns.

It will be manned by a team of six at the renamed Linden Centre, based at the Coxhoe Leisure Centre.

They will be working for the communities of Coxhoe, Bowburn, Cassop, Quarrington Hill, Kelloe and Shincliffe.

If the project is a success it will be extended to the whole district.