INLAND Revenue staff are visiting local JobCentres to offer tax advice nearer to the people who need it.

A team from the tax office in Sunderland plan to call at Stanley, Consett and Chester-le-Street.

Customer service manager Cath Joyce said: "We realise that it is very inconvenient for most people to travel to Sunderland. We hope that local people will take the opportunity to use this new service. Depending on demand, we may be able to extend it in the future."

The team will be at Stanley JobCentre on Thursday, at Consett on Friday and at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday, February 13. All the sessions will be held from 10am to 1pm.