HAMPSHIRE County Council is changing its telephone numbers to make calls cheaper.

From February 2, its 0845 contact numbers will become 0300 numbers, which is designed to improve the service.

Calls to 0300 numbers are included in call packages.

Customers calling the old 0845 numbers will be advised of the change and encouraged to use the new cheaper number.

Its Hampshire-based call centre takes more than half a million calls each year.

The council says it is also looking in the next three years at its digital services as more and more people are choosing to go online to get in touch with it.