A TWO week campaign to gather detailed equalities information from all users of district council services has started.

The data collected by staff at Hambleton and Richmondshire District Councils will be used to help the authorities ensure they provide fair services for residents.

Everyone contacting the either of the councils by telephone, e mail, letter or face to face will be asked to complete a detailed form covering age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation and ability. They will also be asked to comment on how easy or difficult it was to access any services they have used recently.

Assistant director Simon Fletcher said: "Hambleton and Richmondshire Councils are committed to ensuring services are accessible to everyone.

"We already ask standard equalities information of our customers but this exercise is more detailed and concentrated over just two weeks. "All the information gathered will be used to make sure no one is discriminated against when they contact the councils or use any of our services."

To access the exercise visit www.hambleton.gov.uk or www.richmondshire.gov.uk