A FACILITY for Alcester residents to pay their utility bills at their local shop is in the pipeline.

Townsfolk will soon be able to pay for their phone, gas, electricity, TV licence and water bills in cash over the counter at a PayPoint thanks to a push by a councillor to get one set up.

Councillor Nina Knapman said although there were PayPoints in Bidford and Studley, there was nowhere in the town for people to pay their service bills on a weekly basis.

Mrs Knapman said: "Because the Post Office has stopped the service, many residents - mainly the elderly - will now be unable to pay for various services as they did."

She added many were unable to get to neighbouring towns or villages.

"A lot of people need this facility as it is a means for them to pay cash when they can not or do not have a bank account.

"At worse, if they cannot pay on time they get their supply cut off and could get a bad credit history. But it's ridiculous a town the size of Alcester doesn't already have a PayPoint. It's an obvious need for a lot of people," she said.

At present, Warwickshire County Council is investigating possible sites in the town to place the machine.

Marketing manager for PayPoint Peter Binns said they had reviewed the area and a number of shops hadbeen identified that could have a terminal.

Mr Binns said: "We are not sure at this stage if there will be one or more but we are actively pursuing the installation of a PayPoint site in or around Alcester."

He added the facility could be up and running within the next two to three weeks.