WINCHESTER City Council is being urged to do more to limit the risk of mobile phone and landline abuse by its staff.

Auditors report that landline charges are £1,500 a month while mobile phone use is running at about £4,000 monthly.

They say there is no formal system for monitoring calls and so there is a risk workers may "be using communication facilities for unreasonable extensive private use".

Such unreasonable use would warrant disciplinary action, said a council report.

The auditors say a formalised system should be developed to identify any abuse. Monthly reports are now being produced, according to a report to the principal scrutiny committee.