TRAINEES at Swindon's Willows Counselling Service have received an audio boost.

The organisation, which is currently based in Cricklade Road but wants to move to a new headquarters in Ferndale Road, has been given nine donated tape-recorders and headphones from the Haine and Smith Trust an organisation affiliated with the opticians' firm.

The tape recorders will help Willows in the development of its counselling training programme.

Willows executive director Mike Fisher said: "We have recently started working with the NSPCC in Penhill, providing counselling and the new premises in Gorse Hill will enable us to do so much more. We are very grateful for the backing of local companies like Haine and Smith."

Haine and Smith chairman Barry Smith said: "We are very supportive of the work of Willows, and pleased to be of some help in upgrading their training facilities."

The Christian organisation has been providing counselling, debt advice, training and support to individuals, organisations and churches in Swindon and Wiltshire for more than 11 years.

Now, with the planned move to Ferndale Road it hopes to expand by introducing art in therapy, massage, work with children and young people and to develop work with couples and people with debt.