BLACKPOOL people who attended a benefits advice roadshow last month could find they are as much as £50,000 better off.

That's how much could be put into the combined pockets of those who turned up at the first of a series of roadshows to find out what cash help might be available to boost their yearly incomes.

The advice and information roadshow made its first stop in October at Marton and Mereside Community Centre and is set to visit various venues in Blackpool throughout the year.

Experts from a number of organisations will provide specialist advice at each event on the range of more than 30 benefits available with the message, It's Your Money - Don't Lose Out, Find Out!

These include staff from Blackpool Council, which is spearheading the project, the Benefits Agency, Age Concern and the Carers' National Association among others.

People who might be able to benefit include pensioners, parents with children, the sick, disabled, working people, the unemployed, carers and the young.

Information will be available on the new Working Families Tax Credit as well as how to get help with disability and care costs, child care and school expenses or housing and council tax benefits.

The next stop for the roadshow will be at the Revoe First Step Centre behind Revoe Primary School off Central Drive, Blackpool from 11am to 5pm on November 24.

Leaflets reminding people of the date and time and providing more details will be delivered to homes in the area nearer the time.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.