A MASSIVE £320,000 grant has been awarded to a Bromsgrove charity to help it buy and refurbish new premises in the town and give disabled residents more opportunities.

Bromsgrove and District Citizens' Advice Bureau, in Worcester Road, was given the windfall after submitting a bid to the National Lottery Charities Board.

The bureau deals with 11,000 issues a year and has 34 staff -- including 30 volunteers -- who deal with a wide range of problems including social security, housing, employment, consumer debt and legal matters.

Manager Sonia Hambidge said: "All our staff are ecstatic.

"Our current premises is woefully inadequate in terms of cramped working conditions and lack of access for disabled people which has severely limited our development.

"This award will enable us to run an advice service from a fully accessible building and give an improved service to our community."

Once the bureau is relocated, the benefits should have immediate effect and bosses are on the look out for suitable offices.

Sonia added: "More disabled volunteers will be able to join the service and the changes will mean less waiting time for clients, better access to telephone advice and a working environment that benefits a main, modern and progressive advice agency."

The award has come at the same time as the group celebrates its 60th year.