HEREFORDSHIRE Council employees are being encouraged to join one of the county's two credit unions - Marches Credit Union and Leominster Moneybox Credit Union.

Staff who join the scheme have the chance to save a regular amount through the payroll, giving them access to low-cost loans from the credit union. As the largest single employer in Herefordshire, the authority is setting a lead it hopes other employers will follow.

Only staff who live in designated areas will have access to the credit unions' services at present but the council is backing the plans by Leominster Money Box Credit Union to establish a facility to cover the whole county. The Marches Credit Union covers the Kington, Knighton and Presteigne area while the Leominster Moneybox Credit Union covers the Leominster area.