A COMMUNITY bank set up to boost the incomes of people living in Hartlepool's New Deal for Communities (NDC) area is celebrating reaching a milestone.

Moneywise Community Banking, in Avenue Road, recently recruited its 100th NDC resident member since its launch in August.

Claude Borrett, 83, was presented with a certificate and a £10 voucher by Hartlepool borough council chairman Councillor Carl Richardson. The £10 will be credited to Mr Borrett's account.

He said: "I think schemes like this are ideal for small savers. Banks and building societies do not seem very interested when you only have a pound or two to invest, but at Moneywise they are happy to accept anything."

Moneywise Community Banking represents the commercial face of Hartlepool Credit Union. It provides a comprehensive financial service to NDC residents and others in the town, with savings and loan facilities available to everyone regardless of their income or circumstances.

It aims to complement a money advice and debt counselling service that is being offered by the Hartlepool Citizens Advice Bureau.

Development worker Liz Byfield said: "We are delighted to have recruited our 100th NDC resident so soon after our launch and, in fact, NDC membership now stands at 111.

"We also now have a regular presence at the Belle Vue Community Sports and Youth Centre on Mondays and Thursdays, when people can join. We want to promote a culture of saving and people can save as much or as little as they want with us."