FREE legal advice is being offered in Winchester to counteract the global credit crunch.

The Winchester Combined Court Centre is offering the help after seeing the number of people with debt problems, bankruptcy petitions and repossessions rise last year. The centre said it intervened to ease the burden on the Citizens Advice Bureau.

The next drop in session takes place at the city's law courts from 4-6pm on Thursday, April 3, and on the first Thursday of each month thereafter.

For more information contact Carole Abbott on 01962 814331.