The Princess Royal will visit Chippenham Town Hall on Monday to launch Victim Support Wiltshire's new support services.

Victim Support Wiltshire is expanding its role to help witnesses giving evidence in magistrates courts.

Chairman Francis Waken said: "It is a wonderful honour for Victim Support Wiltshire that Her Royal Highness is able to join us and undertake the important task of launching the extended service into the magistrates courts.

"Her attendance truly reflects the importance and value of the assistance that our staff and volunteers provide to witnesses going through the traumatic experience of attending court."

The expansion of the service from the crown courts to magistrates courts is part of a national scheme launched earlier in the year by the princess, who is president of the National Association of Victim Support Schemes.

It will be Chippenham's second royal visit in nine months, following the visit of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in December last year.

Princess Anne will visit the Chippenham Information Point where she will sign the visitors' book, before heading upstairs to the newly refurbished town hall for the launch.

Mr Waken said the support service aims to help and support witnesses and their families.

It offers a range of assistance, including dealing with practical needs, from organising wheelchair access to providing emotional support so court users feel they have some control over the process.

Witness Service senior co-ordinator Kim Swinden said: "Thanks to all the dedicated work of the volunteers and staff in the witness service and the excellent working partnerships that have developed with agencies throughout the criminal justice system in Wiltshire, we are able to come some way towards making the experience of attending court a better one."

Volunteers of all ages are needed, from all backgrounds and ethnic groups, disabled as well as able-bodied.

New recruits have ten days' training over three months to brush up their listening skills, knowledge of equal opportunities and empathy.

Anyone wishing to sign up can contact Ms Swinden on (01793) 484040.