DURHAM County Council's social services department has pledged to deal quickly with emergencies over Christmas.

It has an emergency action plan to ensure a prompt and efficient response even though services will be limited.

Emergencies include a patient's discharge from hospital to nursing or residential care, emergency referrals for residential, nursing or home care, or a patient leaving hospital and needing help in their own home.

Director of social services, Peter Kemp, said: "Anyone who normally receives a service such as day care, home care or respite care, should make sure they and their relatives know what to expect over the holidays. This way they won't be left waiting and wondering what is going to happen.''

People with social services-approved stairlift or hoist should report faults on 0191-383 3793 during office hours or (01831) 194622 at evenings, weekends or public holidays.

The department is urging people to report noises and intermittent faults only during office hours - 8.30am to 5pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8.30am to 4.30pm on Fridays.

Social services locality offices are closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day but open on December 27, 28 and 29. They close for New Year, re-opening on Tuesday January 2.

Locality offices are Wear Valley (01388) 454800, Durham and Chester-le-Street 0191-383 1010, Derwentside (01207) 290990, Sedgefield (01388) 424200, Easington 0191-518 6000. For emergencies out of office hours call the duty team on (01740) 657796.