A NORTH Durham council is appealing for residents to come forward to express exactly what they think of the authority.

They need the residents to join an 850-strong Citizens' Panel to give their views on services provided by the council.

The views will be consulted by councillors and council officers when making decisions.

The panel has been in operation at the council since May 1999 but now the council wants new members to come forward.

A company, called Swift Research, will telephone a random sample of residents across the district asking them to join the panel. Alternatively, interested residents can call the council directly to join the panel.

Members will be sent between three and four questionnaires a year about council services. Results from these questionnaires and details of what the council intend to do in light of them will be sent to members in the Citizens' Panel newsletter Inform.

Anyone not contacted by Swift can call either Sharon Robinson on (01207) 218207, or Barbara Robinson on (01207) 218420.