MORE than £250,000 in unclaimed benefits has been recovered within the first nine months of a welfare and advice project set up to help the most vulnerable members of Bolton's society.

The cash had previously been left unclaimed by people unaware of their rights and entitlements, many of who live in the most disadvantaged areas of the town.

In addition to introducing people to the benefits they are entitled to, the new Income Maximisation Project team has also helped 26 families in Bolton avoid having their homes repossessed.

The team has been set up to provide advice on debt and welfare and is based at the Citizens' Advice Bureau (CAB) offices in Farnworth.

It is funded through the Government's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and managed by Bolton and District CAB under the direction of Bolton Community Legal Service Partnership.

Richard Wilkinson, CAB project manager, described the achievements of the past nine months as "excellent".

And Cllr Frank White, chairman of the Community Legal Partnership, added: "It is good to see that resources in the Borough are being targeted at those who need them most.

"And there is a benefit for the rest of the community, as the money which would otherwise have remained unclaimed, is going straight back into the local economy as people's spending power increases. The project was set up to bring all the advice agencies in the Borough together to look at better ways of working. Given these encouraging results from the CAB, we seem to be going in the right direction."

To contact the team telephone 01204 574633 or write to 55 Market Street, Farnworth, Bolton, BL4 7NS.