SMALL housing offices in Kirklees are being shut and replaced by centralised service areas.

Offices, where council house tenants can go to sort out problems, have already closed in Milnsbridge, Dalton, Deighton and Honley.

In a £700,000 move six service centres will eventually replace 16 offices based on estates.

A Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing spokeswoman said: "Extensive consultation has shown that most tenants prefer to contact us by phone or see a member of staff in their own home."

One new service centre opened last November at the Chestnut Centre on Chestnut Street, Sheepridge.

Now plans are in hand for the next two - on New Street in Huddersfield town centre and at Empire House in the middle of Dewsbury.

The Huddersfield centre will replace housing reception offices at Byram Street and High Street Buildings.

The housing spokeswoman added: "Having many small offices no longer makes financial sense.

"On top of that, most of the old offices can't be made accessible to disabled customers or staff."

She said there would be more specialised staff in central locations, with better facilities than the old offices.

Some of the axed offices are to be sold to help pay for the changes.