A CITIZENS Advice drop-in service has returned to Prudhoe, after being scrapped due to a lack of funding.

From September 2017 Citizens Advice Northumberland scrapped its weekly drop-in sessions at Prudhoe and Haltwhistle.

The move was met with opposition in both towns, but last year the charity’s chief executive, Abi Conway, said the charity’s focus would be on having a stronger community presence across Northumberland.

And in October last year the service began running from Prudhoe’s Manors Extra Care facility on Adderlane Road for two days per week providing appointment bookings, with a promise to bring back drop-ins in the future.

This meant Prudhoe had a staffed, permanent base, where local people could get advice on anything they needed help with.

The Citizen’s Advice service had previously been run from the Spetchells Centre in the town, but when drop-ins were scrapped people were also requested to travel to Hexham where possible or were entitled to telephone advice.

Now, as of Wednesday, March 6, drop-in sessions have been started again and will now operate from the base at the Manors.

On each Wednesday, three advisers plus a supervisor and universal credit support adviser will welcome clients for drop-in 9.30am to 11.30am.

There will also be three afternoon two-hour appointments, out of which two can be pre-booked and one will be kept free for matters arising on the day.

Citizens Advice Northumberland will also continue to offer appointments on Thursdays, to ensure there are appointments available for people to follow up on issues which might arise during the drop-ins.