COUPLES experiencing relationship problems will have a new home from home.

Bury Relate, the former Marriage Guidance Council, is set to move to new premises after securing a grant of £80,000 from the National Lottery.

The counselling service, which caters for anyone with relationship problems, whether they are married or just living together, has been based in an attic office at Crompton Street, Bury, for almost two decades.

But as the service has grown in popularity, so the charity's workers realised they had grown out of their present home and would have to go house-hunting.

Centre Manager for Bury Relate, Joyce Siddall said: "When Relate began around 17 or 18 years ago it was a very small service with just a few counsellors and clients. But we just grew and grew before finally out-growing the premises altogether." She said the new house, in Parkhills Road, will provide easier access to all clients, especially those who may be disabled. "At the moment, as we are up in the attic, we are inaccessible to wheelchairs and it is not very pleasant for any of our clients to trek up the stairs every time they visit."

Joyce said the search for the right location had been "a long, hard struggle", but the keys for the property were handed over last week and the staff are delighted at the prospect of settling into more comfortable surroundings.

"This is quite a special moment for us as it is nearly a year since we actually got the lottery grant. We have had a disappointment with another property but we are so pleased that we now have a suitable premises and are looking forward to giving a better service to our clients. When people come to Relate they really deserve to have a nice atmosphere."

Joyce added that Relate's new home has to undergo a certain amount of refurbishment, but it is hoped that the move will still be complete within the next couple of months.

Honorary president Coun Trevor Holt said: "Our new premises are ideally located for local transport routes and car parking is also readily available. We hope to move in during July or August at the latest."