YOUNG people in Worcestershire and Herefordshire will soon have greater access to advice about careers and personal development.

A Saturday opening service will being piloted by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Connexions, the former Careers Service, in response to feedback from young people. They had said that they wanted offices to open at weekends.

From Saturday February 5 to Saturday, April 30, the Worcester office, in Farrier Street, will be open for business from midday until 4pm. The Hereford office in St Peter's Street will be open from 11am to 3pm.

Connexions was launched in April 2002 as part of the Government's advice, guidance and personal development service for those aged 13 to 19.

Personal advisers help with a wide range of issues from career planning, training courses, employment opportunities and further or higher education and can also signpost people for help with wider "lifestyle" matters including personal development, money management and health.

There is also a national telephone help-line "Connexions Direct" which went live in Worcester last April, that provides an additional service, available every day of the year.

Connexions Direct offers advice between 8am and 2am, seven days a week via a freephone number - 080 80013219.