A BURY-based telecommunications company is ensuring mobile phones improve the efficiency and safety of Lancashire council workers.

And thanks to independent advice from Pennine Telecom, the business is saving local council tax payers money.

The council at Blackburn has now supplied almost 200 staff with the mobile phones which means they can react much more quickly to events, improving the service to the town's residents.

All the equipment is managed by Pennine Telecom which is based at Salford Street,Bury.

Paul Westbrook, the stores and purchasing manager for the local authority's direct services, said that they have to protect lone workers under health and safety legislation.

The majority of the mobiles have been allocated to repair personnel in both the housing maintenance and highways departments.

Staff in the parks and cleansing departments have also been supplied as have some white-collar colleagues.

"The main reason is for lone worker safety. We have people who go into properties on their own and sometimes into hostile areas," explained Paul. "Some have radios but they are fixed in their vehicles. With a mobile phone they are only a call away from help," said Paul.

In addition, staff can be deployed to another task without physically reporting back to the depot.

And the increased flexibility means repairs are being carried out much more quickly, which benefits tenants.

The phones are supplied and managed by Pennine Telecom who monitor usage on a quarterly basis.

"We do a full-scale review and make sure they get the best value for money on call charges and rentals," said the company's cellular mobile account manager, Sean Lynch.

When the council wanted to switch to a new supplier, Pennine arranged for the existing numbers to be transferred and advised on the best business tariff regime.

As a result the council saved more than £25,000 on subscription charges alone on an annual basis.

Sean added: "Because we are independent we can get them the best possible deal. It is a very competitive market place and we are specialists in it.

"By delegating the mobile phone management to us, it allows the council staff to do what they know best, looking after their customers," said Sean.