TOWN councillors in Okehampton are writing to Jobcentre Plus to ask for additional services and hours in Okehampton.

At a meeting of the council's planning and resources committee on Monday, town councillor and former mayor Kay Bickley said: 'I feel we should press for more services and longer hours for Okehampton.

'With the potential for unemployment in the town to double if Wiseman and PoleStar do cut jobs, we need a wider range of services than is currently provided.

'Currently, if people want to do anything more than sign on, they have to go all the way to Exeter. With the cost of public transport and car running costs rising all the time, this is making life very hard for Okehampton residents who are already struggling.

'These people are trying their hardest to find jobs, and we need to do all we can to help them.'

Jobcentre Plus currently offers a two-day a week service in Okehampton, including free customer access to a telephone for clients to use for information on income support, as well as other advisory services.

The service can be found at the Ockment Centre in North Street on Tuesdays and Fridays between 10am and 2pm.