AN online council helpline has been launched.

Residents will be able to find information on household rubbish, trade waste, litter and street cleaning, dog fouling, dead animals, needles and syringes, abandoned vehicles, recycling, grass cutting and street lighting.

The helpline, launched by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's area management department, can be accessed through the council's website at www. redcar-cleveland.gov.uk.

The site offers inquiry forms to answer questions across 11 categories.

Already the service is paying dividends, says the council's cabinet member for environmental improvements, Councillor Bob Stanway.

He said: "I'm really pleased with the new link.

"A lot of work has gone into producing this from our strategic partner, Liberata and is something that we hope will cover an awful lot of issues."