OFFICERS at North Wiltshire District Council are struggling to overcome a benefits backlog.

The district council admitted it had failed to provide its normal quality of service recently, because of the high volume of work and staff sickness.

Now the benefits call centre will be closed on weekday mornings until 2pm, with the exception of Mondays, to allow staff extra time to catch up with the backlog.

The new arrangement will start on Monday.

The district council hopes to clear its backlog of council tax and housing benefit applications by the end of the summer, at which time officers hope normal service will be resumed.

Coun Lesley Bennett, lead member for customer services, said: "North Wiltshire District Council is very sympathetic to the problems of people on housing benefit.

"Due to circumstances beyond our control (staff leaving and sickness) we have built up an unacceptable backlog in processing benefit claims.

"It is now our priority to sort out the backlog and we are bringing in extra staff and changing our working practices to target improvement."

A spokesman for the district council said it was dealing with urgent and emergency enquiries first.

He said: "People need to tell us if their situation is very urgent so we can take this into account.

"It looks as if we are taking a negative step with the closure of the Call Centre but we are in fact making a positive move to cut down on the backlog."