Special help centres have been opened at Sandown and Shanklin aimed at making the Island's council and its related services more accessible.

Council chairman Miss Heather Humby officially opened the centres on Tuesday in front of specially invited guests.

Both centres have been made possible under partnership arrangements.

In Shanklin, a large shop in Regent Street has been sub-divided into a help centre and retail outlet for Osel Enterprises.

In Sandown, the centre is situated in the offices of South Wight Housing Association in East Yar Road.

The Shanklin centre will be open Mondays to Fridays, 9am to 5pm, and the Sandown centre, Mondays to Fridays, 8.30am to 5pm.

Principal policy officer for the council Sue Chilton said: "The great value of help centres is that they offer the community a way of resolving many problems locally.

"This eliminates the time and cost involved in travelling to Newport or other centrally-based offices, which in itself bars some people from seeking the help they so desperately need.

"Staff within the two facilities have wide-ranging knowledge of all aspects of council services as well as other subject areas, and will welcome the opportunity to help local residents."

There will be information on planning applications, road closures, council meetings, as well as an electoral register. Members of the public will also be able to talk confidentially on housing benefit, council tax or other problems.

Further help centres are planned at Ventnor and Brading.