volunteers and staff at West Devon Citizens Advice Bureau were visited last week by Wendy Loades of Lead in Awareness, Intelligence, Support and Education.

Wendy talked about the problem of loan sharks, with a presentation that highlighted the horrendous consequences of illegal lending on the victims. Families live in fear of the knock at the door, knowing they could never be free of the debt and wondering where the next meal for their children might come from.

There was also a worrying trend of increases in the numbers of farming families, pensioners and nurses being targeted by illegal lenders.

Situations such as parallel lending were explained. where licensed money-lenders may also offer unlicensed loans at the door, with no paperwork to explain the interest or record repayments.

The CAB advisers were asked to look out for clients who come to the bureau with money problems and may describe having borrowed money from a friend. The client may not be ready to divulge that they have taken a loan from an illegal lender but Wendy distributed postcards with the 'Report a Loan Shark' hotline number to advisers that could be included with information given to all clients.

Barbara Osbourne, manager at West Devon CAB, thanked Wendy for her talk and said it was useful to be able to inform CAB clients that illegal loans did not have to be repaid.

Loan shark posters with the confidential reporting number of 0300 555 222 were handed out to be displayed in the CAB waiting rooms at Kingdon House in Tavistock and the Ockment Centre in Okehampton.

West Devon CAB can be contacted between 10am and 2pm on Monday to Friday on 08444 111444 or visit http://www.westdevoncab.org.uk">www.westdevoncab.org.uk