MORE than 50 members of staff from Wear Valley District Council's housing department, including brick- layers, receptionists and managers, are taking part in customer care training by following an NVQ level 2.

Their course is part of a broader training plan approved by councillors which includes sessions to be held on housing management, finance and IT skills.

Customer representatives and councillors will be invited on to each training course.

Brian Abbott, performance and training manager, said: "Customers expect staff to be helpful, polite and caring. A recent inspection report has shown that Wear Valley's staff are highly thought of by customers.

"Staff are committed to doing a good job and training helps them to do this."