PEOPLE with problems can call an advice and information phoneline set up with a £54,000 Lottery grant.

Wear Valley Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) is running the service for the next three years with cash from the Big Lottery Fund.

Advisor Alison Walker answers an average of 30 calls in the three hours in which the line is open, dealing with issues such as welfare benefits, tax problems, debt and housing and consumer rights.

If she cannot come up with an immediate answer, she can ring the caller back after consulting a bank of information supplied by the bureau or consulting colleagues in the CAB office in the Four Clocks Centre, at Bishop Auckland.

Peter Singer, the CAB's business and development manager, said: "It has long been our trustee board's wish to provide a telephone advice service, but we have never previously had the resources to do it.

"Anybody who is unable to visit the bureau because they are at work, may be housebound or have caring or parental responsibilities can now contact us by telephone and seek advice and information on anything that may be worrying them.

"This has to be a real benefit, particularly for those living in more remote areas for whom travelling to Bishop Auckland may be difficult."

If the line is engaged, callers can leave a message on an answer-phone and Alison, who was a volunteer advisor with the bureau for three years, will ring back.

She said: "Telephone advice is very different from interviewing clients in the bureau, but I am thoroughly enjoying it and hope to be a friendly and understanding voice on the end of the telephone for whoever needs assistance."

For advice, call the line on (01388) 606661 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 1pm.

The CAB is recruiting for its next training course for volunteer advisors. Contact Hilary Widdowfield on (01388) 660200.