RESIDENTS on a Darlington estate say they are fed up with being unable to contact staff at a neighbourhood housing office.

Councillor Roderick Francis told a meeting of Firthmoor Community Partnership board that residents had complained to him about the estate's housing office answering machine phone always being switched on.

"I know a lot of people on this estate who do not like addressing machines," said resident Kate Vallin.

"You can never get to see anybody and never get to talk to anybody. If we are going to move forward on the estate seriously, there has got to be change."

A representative from Darlington Borough Council told board members that staff were usually out visiting residents but always checked the answer machine and returned calls.