THE Citizens' Advice Bureau in West Devon held a grand draw recently to help raise funds to keep the service going and raise its profile as a charity.

As a provider of free, impartial, independent and confidential advice to the local community, the charity relies on grants, donations and its own fundraising efforts to pay for running costs which include rent, volunteer training and travel expenses.

The first prize of six Exeter Chiefs tickets was donated by South West Communications, who recently installed a new telephone system in the Tavistock and Okehampton CAB offices.

The CAB volunteer and staff teams throughout Torridge, North, Mid and West Devon sold tickets to family, friends and acquaintances as well as donating luxury items for the four prize hampers.

Mandy Kenyon, development officer for CAB, thanked everyone in the bureau who had supported the grand draw.

She said: 'Many people think that the CAB receives government funding to provide advice services, whereas we are responsible for raising our own funds to provide the advice that our community needs.

'As well as applying for much needed grant funding, I feel that it is very important that we hold our own high profile events in the community as funds don't raise themselves.'

The CAB is open in Tavistock on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 2pm, and in Okehampton on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10am to 2pm.

For advice from the CAB call 08444 111444.