TELEPHONES at the Citizen's Advice Bureau are ringing off the wall - because there are not enough staff to answer them.

Employees are so busy helping clients who call into the Blackburn office they have been forced to put telephone queries on hold.

Citizen's Advice Bureau bosses say the problem has been caused by clashes in their staff holidays and they are urging people to call into the offices.

Deputy manager Ann Minoprio said: "Unfortunately a lot of our voluntary advisers are on holiday and so we are very short staffed.

"They are trying to answer the telephone whenever possible but more often than callers will not be able to get through.

"We are aware that the situation is far from ideal and it is very upsetting for some people, who are housebound and cannot get to the office."

She added: "If they can't get through by telephone, I would advise them to call another bureau, or maybe ask a carer to call in for them.

"If that is impossible, they could write to us and we will do our best to reply quickly.

"Most of the staff are due to return and things should soon get back to normal."

The Citizen's Advice Bureau is open five days a week in Blackburn and two days at their Bolton Road office in Darwen.

If you would like to be a volunteer adviser for the CAB you can write to Ann at the bureau, St John's Centre, St John's Place, Victoria Street, Blackburn.

You must be committed to working six hours a week and full training, which takes around six months, will be provided.

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