A SCHEME to provide free loans to poor people has received a boost, thanks to Malvern Town Council.

Organisers of the Malvern Hills No Interest Loan Scheme had asked for a grant of £2,000 from the council to help get the project off the ground.

But when the town council met on Tuesday, members voted unanimously to hand over £2,500 to the cause.

Cathy Jackson-Read of the Malvern Credit and Debt campaign, which is setting up the loan scheme, said that they have already been given £5,000 from Malvern Hills District Council to help pay administration costs and another £5,000 from Fortis Housing towards the loan principal.

Mrs Jackson-Read said: "I'm absolutely delighted that Malvern Town Council has responded so generously, and I can't thank them enough.

"We've also had a wonderful response from members of the public who've been getting in touch and offering sums like £20 towards our loan principal.

"We've put our application for charitable status in to the Charity Commission, and we're just waiting to hear back from them. If all goes well, we expect to be open for business by the summer."

The loan scheme, modelled on one that operates successfully in Tenbury Wells, will provide interest-free loans to people on low incomes for essential purposes, such as buying white goods or means to access employment or education, such as travel passes, school uniforms and equipment.