A MAJOR new Worcestershire forum has been launched to advise people attempting to make money out of the housing market.

Those who have a natural distrust of get-rich-quick schemes are encouraged to attend the opening of the forum in Pershore this week.

It was started after a county businessman revealed his frustration at the housing market and the hype it involves.

Glenn Hanson, who runs a firm dedicated to providing the advice, thinks the market place has become too complicated for first-timers and hopes that the forum will help others get into the business.

He works from an office in Eckington, near Pershore, and is dedicated to cutting through the jargon and hype and giving real-world advice'' to people interested in investing in property.

Mr Hanson said: "What we are looking to build is a growing community of individuals who want to know more about investing in property without pressure from pushy sales people or from get-rich-quick schemes. The forum - and we hope the eventual network- will grow to include trusted professionals in all the fields of property investment.

"The network will be available to guide and support potential property investors in what has become an extremely complicated and distrustful marketplace."

The first forum will be on Wednesday at the Pershore Civic Centre, Queen Elizabeth Drive, between 7pm and 9pm.

The event, which is planned to be the first in a regular series, will start with a presentation of the experiences of a a buy-to-let investor. It will also include a talk by Portugal-based businessman Nick Chessman on investing in properties on the western Algarve.

Anyone wanting to attend the event is asked to pre-register with sponsors Specialised Investment Property Services by calling 01386 750 990.

The forum, Property Invest-ment Options, will charge £10 for advance tickets or £15 on the door. If it proves to be popular, more forums will be staged later in the year.