RESIDENTS should be able to use Oxford City Council's website more easily than ever before because of recent changes, it has said.

The council said information should be more accessible and that it is now easier to use council services online.

It said it has updated its Contact Us page to make getting in touch with the local authority simpler.

The changes were introduced after the council received feedback from residents about problems they had with getting in touch with it.

There is also now a webchat feature, so website visitors can communicate in real time with council staff to guide them to the pages they are looking for.

This is managed by the council's Customer Service Centre.

The webchat facility is available for residents from 9am until 5pm on weekdays, although availability could be reduced at times when the Customer Service Centre is busy with customers' calls.

Councillor Susan Brown, the council's deputy leader and its board member for customer and corporate services, said: “As more and more of life is conducted online, we thought it was important to improve our website so people can find and use our services more easily.

"We are also providing webchat that links dedicated customer services officers to website visitors if they need help in finding their way around the site.”

For more information on the changes, visit the council's website at www.oxford.gov.uk/contact