The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) in the Ribble Valley will close for the final time at the end of March.

The office at Wesleyan Row in Parson Lane, Clitheroe, will shut due to financial difficulties said Chair of Trustees, Stewart Fletcher.

He said: "We have been faced with no alternative as we have now run out of funds.

"This CAB has had support from Ribble Valley Borough Council as its main core funder since it opened in 1987.

"Clitheroe Town Council has also been a significant mainstay contributing to the well being of the wider Ribble Valley community.

"Many other funders have been involved over the years including government agencies, individual donors, parish councils, the NHS, local and national charities.

"The service has very much relied upon a patchwork of funding to keep going from year to year. This is now much reduced and does not cover minimum running costs.

"Until Covid, a brilliant team of volunteer advisers were based in the Clitheroe office and face to face advice was available on a drop in basis.

"Since March 2020, we have only been able to give advice by phone or by appointment on a limited basis.

"A year ago, a government project to help people claim Universal Credit came to a close and with the loss of that income, the CAB has been struggling to make ends meet.

"Ribble Valley Borough Council gave additional support so the office was not forced to close at Christmas, but could keep going until the end of this financial year for which the CAB trustees are grateful."

The CAB said Government withdrawal of funding to councils is one major factor in its closure, with Ribble Valley Council facing difficult decision on how to use its limited funds.

Stewart continued: "It is generally assumed the local office is paid for by the national Citizens Advice organisation. This is not the case.

"This CAB is a separate charity and pays to be a member of the national Citizens Advice network.

"The closure comes at a time of great pressure on low income households and the loss of local advice can only add to their difficulties.

"Personally I am very upset to see this closure taking place. We are most concerned about the people who cannot use the internet and struggle to telephone for help.

"Some individuals really do need to see someone in person to tackle their difficulties and it is no good simply directing them to a website or another number.

"After the end of March, our neighbour Citizens Advice Hyndburn & Rossendale will provide a phone service for local people.

"They are applying for money to be able to see people in person locally but this outreach funding has not been confirmed.

"We would like to see face to face advice services available alongside the food bank services in Clitheroe and Longridge, that would be the ideal after the closure of the office in Parson Lane.

"Trinity Methodist Church and Community Hub and Ribble Valley Food Bank are keen to support this development if it is possible. We await news."

Members of the Ribble Valley CAB will share information on potential future advice services in the borough as soon as possible, and thanked its supporters and partners for their help over the years.