More than 6,000 people needing help and or specialised information contacted the Maldon and District Citizens Advice Bureau last year.

At the annual general meeting of the bureau last Thursday, Ken Harris, the bureau manager, reported that 6,036 people had contacted them last year, a rise of 6.4 per cent, with the amount being made by telephone increasing to 55 per cent.

Inquiries which saw the largest increases were in the areas of benefits, employment and housing, with them totalling to more than 4,000 of the calls.

Benefits had the main rise and were the top of the list of inquiries, making up 23% of the calls.

These cases often need a lot of time spent on them, sometimes even days, and Mr Harris expressed concerns on needing more staff to keep up with the growing number of calls.

"It is for these reasons that the increase in numbers shown over the last few years are unlikely to continue - not because the demand is not there, but because advisers will spend more time in the casework. To maintain growth in volume and casework will require extra people," he said.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer, or who needs advice, should call the bureau on 01621 841195.

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