The Liverpool Echo has launched a troubleshooting service for readers.

The Echo Action hotline was launched to help Liverpudlians with their problems.

The newspaper will be publishing the details as stories and following them through until the problem is resolved.

The service will help individuals when they feel they have nowhere else to go with retails disputes and financial injustices.

The Action team can approach troublesome traders on behalf of callers and will publish warnings about rogue companies.

Community groups needing help with their work are also welcome to phone the hotline and the Echo will appeal on their behalf.

Assistant editor Andrew Edwards said: “The Echo has been looking for ways of interacting with its readers for two years – it looks like Echo Action is the answer.

“We identified the need for a permanent campaigning hotline to deal with problems our readers are experiencing.

“The service is in its very early days but we are already doing some very broad work.”

The hotline received more than 150 calls in its first week. The service has lead to 14 extra stories being published in the newspaper.

Andrew said: “From a media point of view the hotline is very interesting. We are getting lots of stories and we are producing results.

“We are mainly dealing with retail disputes and investment rip-offs. Last week we covered a motorcycle Internet scam and invention marketing rip-off scheme.

“The fear of adverse publicity means that we will often be able to achieve results quickly.”

The Echo Action scheme has a big community edge. Voluntary organisations needing help are also invited to get Echo Action onboard. An adventure playground group in Liverpool has already set the Action team the mission of updating their outdoor playground equipment.

The Echo Action team will not be able to resolve legal, marital or custodial disputes, but they are willing to point hotline callers in the direction of other sources of advice.

Andrew said: “I’m finding the work incredibly rewarding. We have been extremely busy since the dedicated hotline number was launched.

“We are expecting for the initial splash to die down and for a manageable number of calls come in every week.

“There is a core of good stories to be produced by the hotline and we’ve already had feedback from readers saying ‘thanks’.”

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