CITIZENS Advice services in Ross-on-Wye helped resolve 58 cases involving more than £250,000.

With the news that the Citizens Advice services in Herefordshire will continue, figures have been released to show how the outreach service in Ross-on-Wye has helped over the past year.

There have been 173 initial contacts over the telephone and via email.

Wherever possible clients are assisted to take steps to resolve their problem at this initial contact stage.

Where clients need more than some simple advice or information to resolve their problem, their case may be passed to one of the Citizens Advice Bureau's volunteers or paid advisers, who then work with the client.

There were 115 advice cases at Ross, with the majority of these to do with benefits and debt.

Regular appointments are offered on alternate Mondays from the Ross-on-Wye library. In addition, specialist advisers are also able to arrange additional appointments at the end of normal advice sessions for clients who find it difficult to travel.

There were 73 appointments available and 43 slots were booked, along with five additional specialist appointments.

As a result there were 58 outcomes worth £255,212.25, which included £13,138 of debt managed and £75,270.89 of debt written off.

The Herefordshire service is now being run by Worcester Citizens Advice with support from Shropshire Citizens Advice and South Worcestershire Citizens Advice.

All services will remain the same, with people able to access the telephone helpline and attend face to face appointments for the same service at the same venues.