TAUNTON and District Citizens Advice Bureau dealt with 11% more clients last year than over the preceding 12 months.

Staff managed to look into queries from 5,983 people, despite almost six months of disruption from building work.

The £75,000 refurbishment has increased the number of interview rooms from one to six and ensures the offices in Station Road, Taunton, conform to disabled access laws.

Writing in the annual report, bureau manager Liz Forthergill said staff have had to deal with increased enquiries.

She added: "The areas of welfare benefits, debt, employment and housing remain the highest areas of concern to our clients.

"There has been little change in enquiry areas overall and benefits are still the largest enquiry areas, with debt a close second.

"We believe this partly reflects a national trend to more personal debt, but also reflects the increased debt capacity within the bureau."

Over the last financial year, the office dealt with just over £7million of managed debts.

Mrs Forthgill added: "The size of the debt is increasing and there is also a rise in the number of bureau-assisted bankruptcies."

The CAB office helped clients gain £129,973 through employment tribunals.

Mrs Fothergill said 10% of clients came from ethnic minorities, with British, Polish and Portuguese the top three nationalities seen.

The CAB annual meeting takes place at The Priory, Canon Street, Taunton, at 12noon on Thursday, September 13.