Directory inquiry service callers in Oxfordshire have been misdirected to the county's record office.

Staff at the county council's record office in Cowley, Oxford, have been flooded with calls for all sorts of organisations since the new 118 numbers came into operation.

A number of competing companies have taken over the responsibility for providing directory inquiries, previously handled by the 192 service. It is not known which 118 service is responsible for misdirecting callers.

West Oxfordshire District Council, the city parking fines section, Abingdon Town Council and Oxford Council for Voluntary Action are among the organisations that people have been trying to reach, only to be directed to the Record Office in the former St Luke's Church in Temple Road, Cowley.

Receptionist Della Fredericks said: "Fortunately, most callers are very nice about it but we have had a few who have got unpleasant. I can't say I blame them as they've paid to be given the wrong information."

County archivist Carl Boardman has been busy setting up events for national Archives Awareness Month, which is taking place throughout September in Oxfordshire and the rest of the country.

He said: "Maybe this is a huge campaign to help put people in touch with their past! We've certainly been looking for publicity to help us in our drive to rid archives of their image as dusty and old fashioned.

"But we didn't expect unsuspecting members of the public to be put in touch with us by directory inquiries.

"On a serious note, I really can't understand it. For our number to be mistaken for that of one organisation would perhaps be understandable. But so far we've been mistaken for more than a dozen."

If you do want to speak to the Record Office, their number is 01865 398200.