PEOPLE who need to contact East Hampshire District Council can now get live online help from the customer service team. The council says webchat is the contact method of choice for many younger customers, the hard of hearing and people whose first language is not English.

It is available Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. Visit www.easthants.gov.uk using a computer or tablet and an icon saying “live help” will appear on every page.

Councillor Bill Mouland, said: “The introduction of the live help service will give our customers another way to contact the council without having to make a phone call.

“The evidence is more and more people are using our website to get information and advice, and this is another way to help.”