VITAL services provided by the town's Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) will suffer according to its chairman after Redditch Council cut its budget, writes Julian Seva.

The service budgeted for a three per cent funding increase for inflation in the next financial year but was shocked when the council's voluntary sector panel opted for a five per cent decrease to £91,476.

CAB also receives £16,000 a year from Worcestershire County Council as well as several grants allotted for specific types of work.

A council spokesman said eight town organisations had applied for a total of more than £420,000 from a pot of just £255,000.