A CAMPAIGN will run in the Accrington area next week to ensure lone parents bringing up children do not miss out on cash benefits they are entitled to claim.

A special exhibition by Lancashire County Council's welfare rights service will be staged in the Arndale Centre on Monday and Tuesday.

The display will be open from 10am to 4pm each day and a Welfare Rights officer will be on hand to give information and advice.

The Welfare Rights Service estimates there are as many as 31,000 lone parents in Lancashire bringing up some 37,000 children.

Many struggle to manage and could be entitled to cash benefits from the government.

County Councillor Frank McKenna, chairman of Lancashire's welfare rights and anti-poverty sub committee, said: "Parents bringing up children alone are often trying to manage on a low income.

"And it is a fact that they are more likely to be in insecure, low-paid, part-time work."

In Lancashire around 9,000 one parent families get Family Credit, the weekly cash benefit which tops up low wages.

County Coun McKenna said: "It is very important that every lone parent knows about the financial help available."

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