A TRIAL that will give ID cards to thousands of people across the North-East has been delayed for more than two months because of teething troubles.

The scheme, which is expected to pave the way for compulsory cards within a decade, was supposed to start at Newcastle registrar's office in late February. It will get under way next week - forcing the Home Office to cut the trial to three months in order to conclude it by August.

The UK Passport Service has blamed the delay on difficulties with both hardware and software as well as "ergonomic problems" - associated with efficiency.

The scheme ran into problems even though the equipment had been fully tested by the contractor, ATOS Origin, before its delivery, according to a briefing paper.

The system was withdrawn from further tests and given back to ATOS Origin for "further development and reconfiguration". A number of improvements had to be made to the testing booths, known as "enrolment pods", to improve comfort and to produce more consistent results.

These included changing the resolution and focus of the facial recognition camera and introducing a system to allow re-takes, where necessary, of single fingerprints.

Speaking about the delays, Home Secretary David Blunkett told the Commons home affairs select committee: "It is important to get it right, rather than get it quickly."

Newcastle registrar's office was one of four locations picked last month to test out the groundbreaking use of "biometric" data.

In a trial, volunteers will have their face, iris and fingers scanned to test the cost and difficulties of processing applicants for a full scheme in 2007.

The Newcastle scheme began this week for staff working across the civic centre, but the public cannot take part until next Monday.