CITIZENS Advice Torridge, North, Mid and West Devon has reported an increase in its caseload in West Devon of 47% in the past year.

In West Devon in the year ending March 2019, advisers saw just under 6,300 clients and dealt with nearly 10,000 new issues.

Of those, just over 30 per cent were in Okehampton.

The charity believes that the increase in demand for its services is due to the introduction of Universal Credit, which has affected families claiming benefits.

The increase has also been put down to the introduction of online and telephone access to its advisors.

‘We have been developing our services for those people that may not be able to access our offices in work hours or are not able to physically reach us due to disabilities or no transport,’ said spokesperson Mark Bailey.

‘These services are all part of our package and include the Devon Adviceline telephone service and webchat.’

The charity is consulted about benefit problems, debt, housing problems and employment issues.

The biggest housing issue over the past year was private sector rented property.

The biggest benefits issue were the Personal Independent Payments which have replaced the Disability Living Allowance.

Chief officer Vicki Rowe, said: ‘Last year across West Devon our advisers saw just under 6,300 clients – through face to face appointments, phone calls, letters and emails, dealing with nearly 10,000 new issues. We helped people to gain £1.1 million of income which is money brought back into the local economy.

‘People’s problems aren’t just one-dimensional, they are multi-layered. For example, someone in debt could also be suffering from mental or physical health conditions so our impact goes further than people think.’

The charity estimates that is social and economic value across the area is serves to save local government and public services at least £14 million a year.

Its advisors are dedicated volunteers who train for six months for the role. More volunteers are always needed.