DIDCOT Citizens’ Advice Bureau has reopened its doors following a major refurbishment.

The CAB moved from the civic hall in Britwell Road to a former furniture shop in High Street in November.

But advice managers had to restrict the service following problems with telephone lines and a lack of interview rooms.

The office closed during May for refurbishment to take place.

A grant of £7,500 from Didcot Rotary Club helped provide new equipment, new telephone lines and IT systems.

Labour-run Didcot Town Council agreed in May to increase the CAB’s grant for 2011/2012 from £3,500 to £10,100 after the previous Conservative-led administration cut the grant and evicted the advice centre from the civic hall.

Now grants from the Rotary Club, the Beatrice Laing Trust, and the Doris Field Charitable Trust have provided five new interview rooms.

The Didcot CAB has also joined a countywide initiative to improve access to telephone advice and hopes to develop this further.

Manager Judith Abela said: “It has been a difficult few months for both our volunteers and our clients, but thanks to organisations such as Rotary we are able to offer our normal service again. We hope that it will be easier for people to get the information and advice they need.”

The advice bureau is open at Dales, 9-15 High Street, on Mondays and Fridays from 10am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 4pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 1pm.

Telephone advice is available on 08444 111444 from Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm.