PHONE callers to Lancashire Police will soon have press-button options to contend with, similar to those used in call centre queues.

The changes, for non-emergency calls, will be made to help people get through to a police operator who has knowledge of the area the call is being made from. All 999 calls will have priority.

The overhaul will coincide with the introduction of a uniform number for all non-emergency calls throughout Lancashire. The number has been chosen but not yet made public knowledge.

Dale Allen, head of the communication centre for Lancashire Constabulary, told a Police Authority Community meeting in Adlington: "When I took over this position we probably struggled to get through to your call and that was indefensible.

"We were grossly unable to field those calls up until a few months ago."

Mr Allen said the main reason for the force being unable to cope with the number of calls was the public calling 999 on their mobiles without knowing.

This problem had been solved, said Mr Allen, by a call screening system. This means if a 999 call is made from a mobile phone the caller is asked to press the # key twice.