A one-stop shop has been set up to ease the burden of notifying multiple agencies of a birth or death.

Tell Us Once was launched by Essex County Council’s Registration Service this week as a way for family members to report a death or birth once, and staff will inform other agencies on their behalf.

The government departments included in the programme are: the Housing Benefit office; Council Tax; libraries; council housing; adult and children’s services; HM Revenue and Customs; Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency; Jobcentre Plus and the blue badge service.

County Cllr Jeremy Lucas, cabinet member for customer services, environment and culture, said: “We know that the birth of a child or a death in the family can be a particularly difficult time.

“We are really pleased to be able to offer Tell Us Once to save citizens time and money and to ease the strain at a time when residents will have other things on their mind.”