TELEPHONE lines have been set up to improve links between residents of two towns and their police teams.

The phone numbers will enable people in Spennymoor and Ferryhill to leave messages for beat and police community support officers.

Both telephone lines feed directly to answering machines and will not be answered immediately by a police officer.

The voicemail system will be checked when the beat teams come on duty and messages will be passed on to the appropriate officer.

Anyone leaving a tip about criminal activity can do so anonymously or on a strictly confidential basis.

They can also leave a name and telephone number if they want to make an appointment to see a member of the beat team and police have promised to call back anyone who requests feedback.

The system should not be used to report ongoing incidents or crimes which require urgent response - for these people should call the Durham Constabulary non-emergency number 0845-60-60-368 or 999 in an emergency.

Sergeant Iain Rodgers, of Spennymoor police, said: "We recognise that quite often the public simply want to leave a message or information for their beat officer without having to go through the process of explaining to a switchboard operator the nature of their call and then sometimes being put through to the beat office only to find that there were no staff available to answer the phone.

"Hopefully, this will help ease the pressure on the central switchboard and will allow message or information to be left quickly and easily."

It is hoped the voicemail numbers will relieve the frustration felt by people since the force introduced a call centre communications system last year.

The move is a development of a network of anonymous Streetsafe reporting boxes in post offices and community buildings. And it follows the appointment of new police community support teams for Spennymoor and Ferryhill.

The Spennymoor voicemail box can be reached on 01325-742744 and the Ferryhill number is 01325-742759.