CUTS in opening hours at a council housing office have been criticised by a tenants' group.

Wear Valley District Council is closing its reception desk at Old Bank Chambers, in Bishop Auckland Market Place, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and shortening opening hours during the rest of the week to between 9.15am and 3.30pm.

Tenants can speak to housing officers by telephone, even when the office is closed, or visit other offices at Woodhouse Close and Crook Civic Centre.

The council said yesterday that the cuts followed a customer survey, the results of which had been considered by the housing committee and the Wear Valley Customer Panel.

A statement said: "The changes are aimed at providing the highest service provision at times to suit the general public, allowing the officers to make the most efficient use of their time."

Principal neighbourhood operations manager Joanne Dunn said: "These changes will allow us to concentrate our efforts more effectively whilst still providing a full daily service."

However, Doreen Kett, chairwoman of Woodhouse Close Residents' Group, said: "This is a backward step. A lot of people use the Market Place office to pay their rent. Some people from Woodhouse Close prefer to go there rather than the office on the estate because they go into town to collect their pension and do their shopping."