THE number of people helped by legal aid in Swindon has reached a six-year high.
According to figures from the Legal Services Commission, there were 55,000 new legal aid cases started in the south west between April last year and March.
"More people than ever in the south west received legal aid between this period, and more than 1,000 of those were in Swindon.
Geoff Mountjoy, regional director of the Legal Services Commission, said: "I am proud that this year we have helped 14 per cent more people to get legal aid by working with quality assured advice providers who provide excellent value for money, like Wiltshire Law Centre in Swindon.
"Without our help many people could not have afforded the legal advice they needed and their problems would have escalated."
Neil Baker, Wiltshire Law Centre co-ordinator, said: "I am delighted that we have been able to work with the commission to help more people get legal aid.
"We were able to give advice to more than 1,000 families last year."
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