Customer Access Points and most other county council buildings in County Durham will be closed over the Christmas and New Year holidays.

They will close at 4.30pm on Friday, 21 December and reopen at 8.30am on Wednesday, 2 January 2019.

In the event of an emergency, residents can still contact the council on 03000 26 0000 or use the 24/7 automated payments line on 0300 456 2771.

If you are concerned about someone who is vulnerable or at risk, you should contact Social Care Direct on 03000 267 979. The service will be open across the Christmas and New Year period.

Online services will still be accessible over the festive period but requests may not be processed until council offices reopen on Wednesday, 2 January.

Leisure centres will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. They will also close early at 4pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

• Abbey Leisure Centre, in Pity Me, will close early at 11.30am on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

• Riverside Sports Complex, Chester-le-Street, will close on Friday, 21 December and reopen on Wednesday, 2 January.

Libraries will operate normal opening times on Saturday, 22 December but will be closed from then on until Wednesday, 2 January.

Pathways day centres for adults will be closed on Bank Holidays, including Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Children’s centres, meanwhile, will close or have restricted opening times over the Christmas period. Users are advised to contact their local centre or One Point hub to check whether it is open.

The council’s Welfare Assistance Service will be closed on Bank Holidays and will be open reduced hours, from 9am to 3pm, on Christmas Eve, Thursday, 27 December, Friday, 28 December and Monday, 31 December

Register offices will be closed on all Bank Holidays – Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day. Offices in Bishop Auckland and Aykley Heads, in Durham, will be open between Christmas and New Year but will operate on an appointment basis only. To make an appointment, call 03000 266 000. Barnard Castle office will not be open during this time.

Sevenhills DLI research and study centre, in Spennymoor, will close at 3pm on Friday, 21 December and reopen at 10am on Tuesday, 2 January.

Durham County Record Office has now closed for collections management and will reopen at 8.45am on Tuesday, 2 January.

The Park and Ride service will not operate during any of the bank holidays, including Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. It will operate as normal, from 7am to 7pm, on all other days except Sunday 30 December.

Bin collections will take place as normal up to and including Friday, 21 December. Collections during the week beginning Monday, 24 December will be two days later than usual, with collections which normally take place on a Friday being carried out on Monday, 31 December.

Collections during the week beginning Monday, 31 December will take place one day later than usual.

Normal collections will resume on Wednesday, 2 January.

The council will again be offering a collection service for real Christmas trees. Bookings, for collection in the New Year, can be made by calling 03000 260 000 before Sunday, 6 January.

Visit www.durham.gov.uk/festive for more information and updates on Durham County Council services during the festive period.