COUNTY Hall leaders have turned to 21st technology and a television weather girl as part of their efforts to spread the word about their plans to improve services over the next four years.

The county council has produced a 26- minute DVD to explain how it plans to improve the quality of life for people in Kent between now and 2010.

The film is presented by BBC weather girl Kaddy Lee-Preston, who is filmed on a helicopter flight around different parts of the county to visit places and people who will be affected by the authority’s plans.

The film was given its own "premiere" at Maidstone’s Lockmeadow cinema.

County council Conservative leader Cllr Paul Carter said he hoped the film would be seen as an attempt by KCC to interest more people in its masterplan "Towards 2010" which sets out some 60 key objectives across a range of services.

An earlier consultation on a draft of KCC’S strategy succeeded in attracting just 86 responses from the public.

Cllr Carter acknowledged the difficulties of engaging residents in what local government did and the film was, in part, an an attempt to try something new.

"I think this is bringing local government alive in a different format so we can better connect with the people we are here to represent. We are all concerned at the small turnout at elections and that is often because people do not know what local government is doing to try and improve services," he said.

The film will be available to community groups and other organisations.

"I hope groups all over the county will share some of my enthusiasm and will want to watch the DVD with us to share their ideas and thoughts of how we are going to move forward to 2010," he said.

Among key aims of the strategy are free public transport for youngsters and reducing congestion in towns.

The DVD is available at

www.kent.gov.uk/towards2010