The Annesley-based Nottinghamshire County Council’s customer service centre has been praised after answering more than one million enquiries during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Statistics revealed by the council showed how the centre responded to people getting in touch by telephone, email and online over the last 18 months.

Despite the high number of queries, people only had to wait an average of 46 seconds before getting assistance.

Personnel Committee chairman Coun Gordon Wheeler said: “Answering over a million enquiries is no easy task and the customer service centre should be very proud of the remarkable work it has carried out.

“The service it has delivered during the pandemic can only be described as exemplary.

“The pandemic was a horrendous and stressful experience for many, and the help our customer services team offered would have made a tangible difference to countless lives in Nottinghamshire.

“Because of our team, the council has helped people get answers on services, including children and adult social care, school places, food vouchers and local roads, but perhaps most importantly on Covid-19 and the support available.”

Covid-19 help offered by the customer service centre included arranging care and support for vulnerable individuals shielding and providing information and answers about vaccines and vaccination centres.

The group manager of complaints and information, Marie Rowney, said: “Our customer services team really stepped up during the pandemic and were happy to be on hand to answer people’s queries and to provide that much-needed support, particularly to those who were isolating for such a long time.

“The team took part in some outstanding partnership work with NHS colleagues to help keep Nottinghamshire residents safe and informed.”