The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) in Harrow will no longer be offering a drop-in service due to budget cuts.

The bureau, which has been running since the start of the Second World War, will stop the service on March 20 and appointments will only be made for the most complex problems.

Currently 100 people make drop-in visits to the Harrow branch of the charity, which provides legal and financial advice.

Jill Harrison, chief executive of Harrow CAB, said the situation is partly due to council budget cuts but also due to the natural ending of funding agreements which occurred at the same time.

She said: “We are in very difficult times as a country and sadly there is very much money for the voluntary sector.

“We can only do what we can afford to do I’m afraid but we hope to get something going again in the future.”

Last year almost 13,500 people used Harrow CAB for help with problems like benefits, debt, employment and housing.

And it helped residents to manage £3million in debt and claim £1m in benefits.

Mrs Harrison added: “We will try to help as best we can over the phone and if we can’t we will try to book you an appointment.”

People can still access free and independent assistance over the telephone by calling 0208 427 9477.