FACE-to-face advice sessions for people needing help with issues including debt, job, benefits and housing has restarted.

Barrow Citizens Advice has now reopened its advice service after it was suspended because of the coronavirus crisis.

The service will initially only be open on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and will be restricted to those who cannot use the phone or email.

Chief officer Christine McKinlay said: "We have to take great care to make sure our office at Ramsden Hall is as safe as it can be both for staff and for the public.

"More than half of the people who ask for our help have serious long term health problems or are disabled so are particularly vulnerable to Covid 19 infection.

"We have a small staff team so cannot afford to have anyone unable to work because they have been exposed to infection.

"We are therefore asking that those who can, continue to use the phone and email to get advice from us. This will leave the face to face service for people who are only able to access our services in person."

She said during lockdown many people have discovered how easy it is to get exactly the same service from the comfort of their own home over the phone or by email.

"But even today when it’s assumed everyone can, and does use smart phones and the internet, there are those who have absolutely no other way of contacting us other than in person and Barrow Citizens Advice needs to provide a service to them," she said.

"We will be checking everyone’s circumstances at the door and will only admit those who can only access us in person and do not present any risk of infection.

"We also have to insist on face coverings being worn and details being held for Track & Trace."

The service is available between 9.15am and 1.15pm.