THE biggest IT project ever undertaken in Herefordshire rolls out in about a month's time -and every man woman and child in the county has a stake in its success.

Just a year ago the odds on Herefordshire Connects reaching this point were not so good. Herefordshire Council's pioneering technology-led project - a streamlining of services with the potential to save millions of pounds - was put on hold as the Crookall inquiry found serious flaws with the awarding of two key IT contracts.

The fallout from Crookall is still being felt, but behind the scenes a council IT team, now largely made up of in-house talent, got on with the job to keep a re-focussed Connects on course.

Connects goes live next month as the first phase of a £2.5 million overhaul of aging software used by the council's social care directorates.

For a full report, see this week's Hereford Times.