Throughout next week, Winchester City Council will be working in partnership with the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) to provide help and benefits advice to people out on the streets of Winchester. Representatives from energy companies will also be on hand to provide advice on how residents can save money on energy bills.

With Britain appearing to be on the brink of a recession, there are significantly more people facing redundancies and financial difficulties. Financial problems can put strains on individuals and families, and the City Council, together with CAB, wants to ensure that people can get access to important help and benefits that could help to ease the pressure on their lives.

Each day next week, Winchester residents will be able to talk to representatives from the City Council and CAB to calculate precisely what benefits they qualify for. The CAB will also be able to direct people towards other sources of help and support.

In the current economic climate, the City Council wants to ensure that residents are fully aware of the help and benefits that they are entitled to.

A council spokesman said: "During these testing times, it is particularly important that people are made aware of the help and benefits that are available to them. Rising energy and food prices, together with redundancies, mean that more and more people are in need of advice on how to cope."

The help and advice will be available at the following locations and times:

Date and time: Monday 6 October (From 10am to 2pm)
Location: St Maurice's Covert (next to Debenhams in the high street)

Date and time: Tuesday 7 until Friday 10 October (From 10am to 2pm)
Location: Winchester Market (Middle Brook Street)