MORE help will soon be at hand for people in the city struggling with debt.

Opening hours at the Nottingham & District Citizens Advice Bureau in Carrington Street are to be extended and staff numbers bolstered.

Manager Trish Eaton said it would help the centre cope with current high demand.

Of the present situation, she said: "We are still able to give people a level of information, such as self-help materials, but the level of one-to-one consultations falls below what we would like.

"The extra funding is positive news."

In 2007/08, staff helped more than 5,300 people, an increase of 16% on the previous year.

A further 5,100 people also called the centre's recorded information line.

In total, staff dealt with more than 16,700 different issues – of which more than half were debt-related.