A VITAL advice service has warned it could struggle to survive unless more volunteers are found to cope with a rise in demand.

Banbury Citizens’ Advice Bureau (CAB) said demand has rocketed.

It is expanding its Cornhill premises but says people will be turned away if more volunteers are not found.

But branch chief executive Barbara Shaw, said: “Without the passion and generosity of our dedicated volunteers, the service would struggle to survive and the cost to the economy of unresolved problems would soar.”

“Our recent expansion into new premises has provided us with much needed extra space to meet the increased demand.

“We have to turn people away or we can’t do as much work for people as we would like to.”

Demand had risen because of major Government cuts to services and benefit reform, she said.

These include a reduction in housing benefit rates and “inconsistent” medical re-assessments of incapacity benefit claimants, she said.

People hit by redundancy or reduced pay or hours were struggling to pay debts, she added.

In 2011/12, some 5,247 people had their case taken up by the service, up from 4,573 in the previous 12 months.

Its inquiries were up from 14,281 to 15,893 over these two years.

About a third were about debt while a quarter were about benefits and 11 per cent were about employment.

Mrs Shaw said volunteers are needed to talk to people when they first make contact, help people with their problems and work on reception.

It has about 70 volunteers and 17 salaried staff and has space for about 25 more.

For information call in at the branch, visit caox.org.uk/banbury or call 0845 815 0092.