REDCAR and Cleveland people could soon have a one-stop shop to give them legal and community advice.

Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar is calling for action from the local council, the citizens' advice bureau and solicitors in the area to form a community legal partnership.

Stockton, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough already have community legal partnerships which ensure community advisors and solicitors work to help residents.

Dr Kumar said: "I believe it is crucial that this partnership is set up as soon as possible.

"I do know from personal case work that there is a need for a good advisory services in the East Cleveland villages, Saltburn and Guisborough.

"There needs to be a working partnership between the council, agencies like the citizens' advice bureau and local solicitors, so there is a seamless one-stop shop approach to both helping people in terms of claiming their rights and getting access to legal aid if they finally have to go to court.

"If these structures are not in place, they disadvantage people who all too often are the ones who need help most."