THE manager of the Citizens Advice Bureau in Trowbridge is hoping a magic wand will help persuade the district council to stump up more funds.

Sarah Cardy brought out the toyshop wand at a meeting with councillors to try and gain the funding to secure the long-term future of the service.

She said: "The wand was a way of trying to capture their attention and get across the point that we need this funding to run the service that they want and people need."

The bureau provides a service across west Wiltshire and has dealt with 8,000 inquiries since it was launched in May last year.

Fully trained volunteers have helped people to manage a total of £600,000 in debt as well as helping people negotiate their way through employment or benefit tribunals.

The CAB service in west Wiltshire was forced to close in August 2000 because of funding problems and the new service received start up funding from the national Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux.

This funding was on the basis of a sliding scale for the first three years, so the service now needs to increase funding from other areas.

Ms Cardy said: "We are £7,000 down on what we had last year yet we are being asked to increase the service."

The office, at Mill Street, is currently open three days a week but Ms Cardy is hoping that can be extended to five days a week.

The office is also working on a system allowing users to access advice on the telephone, the web or even by text on their mobile phones.

The district council provided £50,000 last year and had proposed the same amount this year, but is now considering the request for more.

To go ahead with its plans for expansion the service also needs more volunteers.

Ms Cardy said: "It is a very rewarding thing to do and the more volunteers we can get the better service we will be able to offer."

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer can contact Kirsty Field on (01225) 781944. This number is for volunteers only, to ask for advice call 0845 1203737.