HAL the hedgehog is hoping drivers will not encounter any prickly problems on the roads this Christmas.

Hal is the mascot chosen to front Durham County Council's highways action line, launched on October 1.

The one-stop-shop fault reporting system has been busy since it came on-line.

Previously, people had to ring different numbers, depending on the problem they wanted to report.

Staff have fielded almost 12,000 calls from people about problems ranging from faulty street lights to blocked drains.

The 24-hour phone line will be on full alert during Christmas and the New Year.

Chris Tunstall, the council's director of environment and technical services, said: "Early indications are that Hal is proving very effective in dealing with problems efficiently.

"We had estimated about 36,000 calls a year, but we have had almost 12,000 inquiries in under three months, so it looks like we will exceed that figure."

Staff run the line from a call centre in County Hall. A monitored emergency answer-phone service is in operation out of hours.

Mr Tunstall said: "Anyone with information about potholed roads, faulty street lights, faulty traffic lights or blocked road drains, should call 0191-370 6000."