COUNCIL bosses returned to the frontline and taken a hands on approach to customer services.

Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council marked the National Customer Service Week initiative by staging a series of activities highlighting the range of services it offers residents, as well as honouring staff who go the extra mile.

And employees in the authority's contact centre were particularly well rewarded for their hard work as Customer Services Manager Cath Adams used her skills as a trained aromatherapist to offer lunchtime hand massages.

She was also one of several senior bosses to return to the shop floor during a busy week of events.

Director of Area Management Simon Dale manned the main reception desk at Redcar and Cleveland House, greeting residents.

And head of operations and IT Gary Flynn spent a day with refuse crews, while east Cleveland's head of neighbourhood Kellie Hopkins worked alongside clean and green teams in the area.

Councillors, including the Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland Ray Goddard, also dropped into the contact centre to see the variety of calls taken from members of the public.

Leader of the Council, Councillor George Dunning, said: "As a council, we are committed to providing first-rate customer service and this week of activities gave us a great opportunity to celebrate all of that good work."