A SERVICE which provides needy Bromsgrove residents with advice and information has been forced to close on a Saturday after the plug was pulled on vital funding.

The town's Citizens' Advice Bureau, (CAB) based in Worcester Road, will withdraw its Saturday advice sessions following a decision by Bromsgrove District Council to offer a 'standstill grant' of £68,000.

This means the cash-strapped authority has not allowed adjustment for inflation in its annual award, leaving the bureau facing a £2,065 shortfall.

Saturday morning sessions have been targeted because they are the least cost-effective to run, relying heavily on paid support staff because volunteers have difficulties attending out of hours.

The bureau dealt with more than 11,000 issues last year including employment, housing, consumer debt, social security, relationship and legal problems.

It employs 30 volunteers supported by two full-time staff and a part-time case worker and runs two outreach sessions at HMP Hewell Grange, in Tardebigge, and Charford Multi-Agency Resource Centre, in Humphrey Avenue. Bromsgrove CAB chairman, Gordon Cooper, said it was vital to retain current opening hours on weekdays because of the high level of demand from clients throughout the week who already faced lengthy waits at peak times.

He added: "It is important volunteers who are giving one and a half days of their time, who undertake complex technical advice work, retain the level of paid staff support they require."

Bromsgrove District Council leader Nick Psirides (Con, Norton) said: "I regret having to do this but it is purely down to inadequate funding that central Government is giving us."