COUNTY Durham district councils say they do not want to take part in the next phase of a plan to introduce a nationwide problems hotline.

The Government has designated 101 as the number people across the country should ring to report non-urgent problems such as graffiti, fly-tipping, vandalism, noisy neighbours, drunken rowdiness and drug-related anti-social behaviour.

The idea is that it will free 999 for real emergencies, that require an immediate response from the police, fire brigade or ambulance service. The Government says many 999 calls are not urgent.

Five councils in other parts of the country are starting to use 101, but the Durham District Councils Forum has turned down an invitation to be in the second wave of the initiative.

The forum says it supports the principle of a non-emergency number, but doubts whether it can be properly planned and funded at the moment.

Forum chairman Bob Fleming, leader of Sedgefield District Council, said: "The district councils welcome moves to improve services and make them more accessible and responsive to members of the public.

"We have been working actively with the police to improve neighbourhood policing, which has been clearly identified as being of prime public concern.

"However, we do not believe that sufficient time is available at present to ensure that this service can be delivered properly and well within the resources that the Government is likely to make available.

"We want to ensure that any monies available go to support identified priorities in our communities. This idea is not yet properly tested and could give rise to considerable additional costs, which should not fall on the council tax payer."

Coun Fleming said a similar point had been made by Sir Michael Lyons in his recent review of local government, in which he urged the Government to provide local authorities with the money they need to properly develop and implement services.

"The districts, therefore, prefer to continue to concentrate their efforts with the police and other partners, as this is much more likely to deliver the improvements to neighbourhood policing demanded by the public," he said.