Seventeen extra staff have been drafted in to Cannock Citizens Advice Bureau after redundancy inquiries rocketed by more than 200 per cent.

Bosses at the Allport Road building have recruited the staff to deal with the increasing number of inquiries in today’s economic crisis.

Clients are now advised to phone in with their inquiries to make sure they are dealt with in time.

A new number has been introduced for people at Cannock and Rugeley bureaux for advice to save them coming into the building and having to queue for hours.

Last February, Cannock’s Citizens Advice Bureau was given £36,000 and Burntwood’s handed £40,000 to help cope with demand as branches reported dozens of people queuing to get in.

The queues have now been reduced through the advice line and most people are given an appointment within five days.

The volunteers are unpaid but fully trained in debt and redundancy counselling. They also have access to fact sheets which can be emailed to clients if needed.

CAB Cannock services manager Sam Catchpole said: “I started in 1993 at the end of the first recession and this one has been far worse.

“Debt counselling and job inquiries have rocketed.”