The community alarm service will be monitored from North Hertfordshire District Council, it has emerged.

In December, all alarm calls will be directed to a control centre at North Hertfordshire District Council and this follows on from Hertfordshire County Council’s decision to pay the council directly for the service.

At present, alarm calls are sent to a centre in Broxbourne.

However, at a cabinet meeting at St Albans City and District Council, politicians were told that the change "should not affect service delivery".

Councillor Brian Ellis, portfolio holder for housing at St Albans City and District Council, said: "The Council is doing all it can to make the changeover to the new control centre as smooth as possible.

"We have written to users explaining the changes and will also be visiting them to re-programme their alarms so that they go through to the new call centre."

The authority has sent letters to service users in the District explaining these changes.

If a personal alarm is activated, the operator will call a named relative for the caller. However, if the caller is living in sheltered housing and activates the hardwired alarm system by pulling a cord, a home visit will be made.

St Albans City and District Council’s housing support officers will also visit users’ to explain the change and complete relevant paperwork. They will also visit a second time to re-programme the alarm so that it is directed to the control centre at North Hertfordshire District Council.