HYNDBURN’S MP is hoping to offer a helping hand to local businesses in the New Year.

Graham Jones is going to contact local businesses across his constituency to get their views on how the government can help small businesses in this tough economic climate.

He said: “In coming weeks and months I am going to begin contacting businesses across the constituency directly, with the intention of putting them in touch with Government Departments such as BIS and their agencies such as UK Trade and Investment.

“I want my office to do as much as it can to function as a direct link to central Government, for as many companies as possible that would benefit from this.

“I want to know what problems businesses are facing, what the Government could do to help them, and what I can do to push them into it.”