LANCASHIRE County Council and Burnley Council have launched a joint internet initiative to improve public access to their services.

Both have signed up to a shared on-line contact centre that will help residents in Burnley and Padiham access a wider range of council facilities.

Other aims of the contact centre are to extend access outside working hours and use technology for a faster response.

Internet kiosks, community portals and face-to-face one-stop shops will be provided so people can key directly into the information.

Each authority will pay a fee of £95,000 for the service, which will be taken from a £200,000 government technology grant.

"The public will be able to have a more seamless response between the County Council and Burnley Council and the queries they raise.

"This is a really major project for this council," Mick Cartledge a member of the council's best value and resources team said.

The centre will handle enquiries about social services, consumer protection, highways, education, council tax, benefits and refuse collection.

Although the scheme was passed at a recent meeting of Burnley Council's executive committee, there will be a 12 month period of pre-implementation to ensure the introduction of the system runs smoothly.

Improving communication between Burnley and County Hall is one of the Task Force recommendations. The body set up to investigate the cause of the riots in 2001 said that moves towards better understanding between the two councils should be progresses.

The report added that Lancashire County Council should review the provision and level of services it provides in the Burnley borough.