AUDIO systems at both Dorset County Council and the West Dorset District Council headquarters have broken down.

On Monday both council chambers were without their audio systems leaving councillors with no option but to raise their voices – or not be heard.

The systems at both councils have suffered a series of problems with individual microphones and speakers frequently not working in either chamber.

They also suffer, more frequently, from operator error, with councillors failing to switch their microphones on, or off, or failing to remember that they need to be fairly close to the microphone to be heard.

Their introduction has also resulted in an end to what was once considered a courtesy – standing to speak, because if that happens, the chances of being heard diminish considerably.

Both councils say repairs have been called for and the systems should be back in use as quickly as possible.

A Dorset County Council spokesman said: "It is a coincidence that both the DCC (Committee Room 1, County Hall) and DCP (Committee Suite, South Walks House) systems have had issues at the same time.  We are not aware of the technical reasons for the failures, but they are not linked systems and do not depend on each other. 

"For the DCC system we are aware that it is a Wi-Fi related issue, which our ICT colleagues are looking into, and it is understand that DCP have put a call out to their supplier to get their system fixed as a priority.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused and hope both systems will be back to normal shortly."