A VISITING Liberal Democrat MP gave his seal of approval to Kirklees Council's call centre in Huddersfield.

Teignbridge MP Richard Younger-Ross was in Huddersfield during a tour of northern councils. He spoke to some of the 50 staff on the visit to the Kirklees Contact centre in Queensgate.

The MP is seen with Clr Paul Battye, Kirklees Cabinet member responsible for the service.

Operators handle questions about council tax, housing benefits, repairs and waste.

The number of calls has doubled to 400,000 a year since the centre opened in November, 2001.

Mr Younger-Ross said: "The staff are well-trained and the organisation is professional."