THOUSANDS of people in and around Wantage are set to benefit from an improved free advice service.

Wantage and Didcot MP Ed Vaizey opened a £60,000 expansion to Wantage Independent Advice Centre (IAC).

The first floor expansion and overall refurbishment was needed as demand grows for the centre’s services.

Improvements include four new, private rooms for discreet consultations on debt and benefits and a lift for disabled visitors.

The project took five months and was made possible by public donations, grants from local councils and public bodies.

Speaking at the opening, Mr Vaizey said: “It was a proud moment for me to officially open the new improved advice centre.”

The centre, which costs £100,000 a year to run, and is funded by the district and town councils, has four part-time staff and 90 volunteers.

They offer free advice, a volunteer driving service and a “good neighbour” scheme to help with odd jobs around the house.

Wantage Mayor Fiona Roper has named the IAC as one of her two charities for the next year, along with the museum.

She said: “The state of the centre before was not very good, they didn’t have a lot of privacy. Now they have separate interview rooms and it all looks really beautiful.”