Government chief whip Hilary Armstrong opened a job and benefits centre in Crook yesterday.

Ms Armstrong, who is also the town's MP, opened a Job Centre Plus office in New Road.

Employers were invited to look round the centre, which is the first to open in Durham under a national modernisation programme.

Manager Karen Ball said: "It is about ensuring that people of working age get support from a personal advisor to access jobs and job-search support as well as making sure they are getting all of the benefits they are entitled to."

Ms Armstrong said: "The refurbished office will provide an enhanced service for local people. Job Centre Plus represents a big change in how we help people into work.

"We now have much lower unemployment, but there are still too many stuck on benefit and feeling that there's a barrier stopping them from returning to work. This is one of the big challenges for the Government in the next four years.

"We want to open up more opportunities for people and by bringing together employment and benefit services on the one site we can provide a more personalised service."