A Bradford advice centre has been handed a financial lifeline which will enable it to continue helping the most vulnerable and needy people in society.

Girlington Advice Centre, in Girlington Road, has been awarded £146,000 by the National Lottery's Community Fund, to help it continue to advise local people of their rights.

Advice centre manager, Jana Elles, said: "This is wonderful news. The new grant will pay for a part-time outreach worker and contribute significantly to the costs of administering and developing our service.

"The centre still needs adequate core funding however if it is ever to fully meet local needs. In the past we have relied on Council funding but with recent cuts to the voluntary sector that has been difficult.

"Our hope now is that Bradford Council will recognise and support our service as a vital one within Bradford.''

The centre, which has been running independently for four years, provides much of its advice through outreach workers in local GP surgeries. They advise on a variety of subjects from housing and benefits to employment and education rights.

The Community Fund money will safeguard the jobs of the current five part-time outreach workers and also provide the opportunity to employ a further outreach worker.

The Community Fund shares out money raised by the National Lottery to charities, voluntary and community groups. The grants are designed to help those at greatest disadvantage and improve the quality of life in the community.

Girlington Advice Centre management committee chairman, Ian Harknett, said: "We welcome this grant, which will help us to continue providing Girlington residents with advice on their rights and entitlements.

"It is a lifeline for the centre. We hope there will soon be mechanisms in place to ensure adequate funding of legal advice services in Girlington and across the Bradford district.''

Management committee member Mahfooz Shah said: "The advice centre provides a popular and much needed service to the area and this grant will help the centre to continue to help those vulnerable people who rely on it.''