Volunteers in Huntingdon who help protect the community from loan sharks are the first in the county to receive an award from Trading Standards. Unscrupulous loan sharks operating in the town could be a thing of the past, thanks to the efforts of the Hunt

Volunteers in Huntingdon who help protect the community from loan sharks are the first in the county to receive an award from Trading Standards.

Unscrupulous loan sharks operating in the town could be a thing of the past, thanks to the efforts of the Huntingdon Financial Health Clinic team, who have received the accolade for Outstanding Commitment to the Community from Trading Standards.

The not-for-profit service, which was launched in Oxmoor in October, offers specialist advice and support to local residents who find themselves in financial difficulty. With resources and information accessible under one roof, the Financial Health Clinic is designed to enable people to take a better approach to money management.

Project manager for Huntingdon, Nicolette Fletcher, said: "All of us are under terrific financial pressures and it is easy to find ourselves deeper and deeper in debt, or even turning to loan sharks. The clinic gives people an alternative and a way to save.

"It has already helped lots of people and we are delighted that the volunteers' hard work has been recognised."

Pictured here are volunteer George Robbins, director of environment and regulation for Cambridgeshire County Council Julia Barrett and volunteer Anne Melton.

INFORMATION: Visit the clinic at the Oxmoor Opportunities Project on Mondays and Thursdays from 10am until 1pm. To volunteer at the clinic call 01954 284654. Picture: HELEN SOUTH (7044)