A Council helpline used by tens of thousands of people was today described as "rubbish" by a leading Labour councillor.

Councillor Anne Hawkes-worth, executive member for environment, said today that an urgent review of the (01274) 751000 helpline was going to be carried out.

The number is used by people who want to report or complain about services, including street lights, bin emptying or road and footpath problems.

But they are answered by a recorded message and must press a number for the service they need.

People have also complained they are sometimes directed from pillar to post and elderly residents say they have difficulty understanding the system.

The contact point deals with 12,000 calls a month, of which anything between 6,000 and 9,000 need further action. The average waiting time for a call to be answered is 90 seconds, but can be five minutes at peak times.

Coun Hawkesworth said: "I believe neither councillors, officers or residents are convinced of its effectiveness."

The move to review the service was supported by the leader of the Liberal Democrat group Councillor Jeanette Sunderland and deputy Labour group leader Councillor Barry Thorne.

Coun Sunderland said: "We are not saying that the use of one number is wrong but the current system has enormous problems. It may be that it would be better to have human operators."

Coun Thorne said: "We are certainly not saying the staff are rubbish. It's the system. But it is important we look at this."

The helpline is highlighted in a report by officers going to the corporate overview and scrutiny committee next Monday.

The report shows cleansing receives 100 calls a week about missing black bag refuse collections and 30 to 40 of wheelie bin collections not being made.

Housing received 1,137 complaints between December and March this year - 1,089 connected with repairs.

But the report says 9,400 housing repairs are carried out each month, and only about 3.5 per cent resulted in complaints.