A TOWN with many money problems has been given a lifeline to tackle debt - thanks to a £78,000 funding boost.

Now cash problems which threaten to wreck people's lives will be targeted by Haslingden's Citizen's Advice Bureau.

The Money Advice Service offered by the CAB has £78,000 funding from Action for Haslingden and offers help for people struggling with debt difficulties.

Haslingden is recognised as a vulnerable area for money problems, with CAB volunteers helping nearly twice as many people with debt compared with the national average.

In recent years, the number of inquiries from residents worried about finances has been escalating, with at least 20 per cent of all queries being money-related.

The CAB's new local manager Marion Atkinson, is urging people facing increasing burdens of debt to get in contact "sooner rather than later, as prevention is easier than cure."

The Money Advice Service provides impartial advice on how to handle debt, assistance in dealing with county courts and will carry out negotiations with creditors to restructure payments - all with guaranteed anonymity.

Said Marion: "We can ease the pressure of debt difficulties.

"We don't make them go away, but we will deal with creditors and help to negotiate reasonable outcomes to financial difficulties."

The CAB advice unit is based at 3, Burgess Street, Haslingden, tel. 01706 231198.

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