DURHAM'S credit union will open a new collection point in the city centre next week.

The collection point at St Nicholas Church, Market Place, will be open on Fridays between 12.30 and 2pm from Friday, May 2.

It will be the Durham City and District Credit Union's third collection point - the union is also available on Wednesday mornings at Community House, Holly Park, Ushaw Moor, and at the Pelaw View Community Centre, on the Sherburn Road estate.

The union, for people who live or work in the Durham district, opened earlier this year and has more than 60 members.

Credit unions are regulated by the Financial Services Authority and are co-operatively-run savings and loan organisations.

They are increasingly being seen by the Government as a way of promoting its policies of 'social inclusion' by offering people with small incomes affordable alternatives to commercial banks and money lenders.

People in work earning good money can also be credit union members.

The Durham union will hold its annual meeting on Monday at 7.15pm at Durham's Gala Theatre.