A SUPPORT team is being set up to improve Darlington Borough Council's housing benefits work - thanks to a major Government grant.

Staff in the borough council's housing benefits section are celebrating after a successful bid for £32,000 to improve customer service.

The money - from the Department of Works and Pensions Performance Standards Fund - will be used to employ a dedicated, specialist telephone help team to work alongside the existing customer services team.

The department receives thousands of inquiries each year from customers wanting all kinds of support, including help with rent and council tax payments and information and advice regarding benefits.

Cabinet member for housing Coun Paul Baldwin said the grant was very good news for the council and public.

He said: "The extra money will allow many more people to get access to the housing benefit service.

The department deals with more than 300 claims a week and now the team of benefit assessors will be able to concentrate on dealing with these claims quickly and accurately and without interruption.

"This level of service should lead to improved customer satisfaction levels and faster processing times."

The council said the extra funding meant that people contacting the housing benefit section at the town hall will be dealt with immediately by a team of three people who have been specially trained to deal with all types of inquiries.

The grant has been welcomed by council chiefs, who say that it will lead to a greatly improved service.