FORMER employees of a Hereford department store who have hit on hard times could be eligible for a grant, says the Owen Owen No 1 Trust.

The Trustees of the former national department store group, Owen Owen, are especially looking to trace former store personnel who may be eligible for a grant. Owen Owen had a store in Commercial Street, Hereford, between 1975-79 and at one time employed more than 5,000 in the Midlands alone.

The founder Mr Owen Owen set up the No 1 Trust in 1900 to help employees who might suffer hardship, and for the last 100 years it has continued to make a difference to people's lives by offering grants to help with everything from telephone line rental, to major household items and for unforeseen expenses, such as funerals.

Generally, the grants are limited to those on a low income (below £9,000 for a single person and £11,000 for a couple).

Those eligible could be past employees who have worked either full or part time and could even extend to their dependants.

Anyone wishing to know more should call the Owen Owen No 1 Trust Helpline on 0845 1130067. Calls will be charged at a local rate.