A CREDIT union in central Blackpool is set to help even more cash-strapped residents by expanding to cover the whole of the resort.

The Tower View Credit Union, based at Layton's Queens Park Estate, is a non-profit financial co-operative that serves Layton and Grange Park.

They are now planning to expand to the north and south of the town and are appealing for volunteers to help the scheme achieve its ambitious plans.

The scheme desperately needs tellers -- people to take the money in, write it in a book and pass it on to members of the committee -- before they can go ahead.

Councillor Pat Carrington told the Blackpool South Labour Party at a recent meeting the union had assets of more than £1 million and 90 per cent of that money was out on loans all the time.

Savers receive dividends and are eligible to apply for low-cost loans with no hidden charges.

Largely for people who do not have or cannot get bank accounts, small sums of money are saved every week and after 13 weeks they can apply to borrow an amount equivalent to twice their savings. Grange Park Councillor Brian Doherty said: "It gets money to people who otherwise couldn't afford it and gets them away from the loan sharks."