Wartime song and dance for Wirral's Citizens Advice Service

A Citizens Advice service has been freely available to all across the borough since 1939.

As the prospect of a world war loomed, the National Council of Social Services established a group to look at how to meet the needs of the civilian population in war time.

Just a day after the outbreak of World War Two, on September 4 1939, Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) offices in both Birkenhead and Wallasey opened their doors for the first time.

Across the country, volunteers ran the service working from public buildings and private houses.

Advisers dealt with problems relating to the loss of ration books, homelessness and evacuation.

They also helped locate missing relatives and prisoners of war.

Debt quickly became a key issue as family income reduced due to call-ups to the forces.

To celebrate the 75th anniversary, a tea dance will be held on September 5 - an event chosen to mark the occasion due to its reminiscence of the entertainment that people sought out at the time of the bureau’s creation.

To this day, many thousands of people attend such events each week up and down the country, enjoying music from the era and dancing the afternoon away.

Vocal entertainer Peter Jones will be singing songs and playing music very much in tune with the era when the bureau first opened in Wirral.

Philip Howley, chair of the CAB Trustees, said: “No one knows when they might have a problem they can't sort out. That's why we plan to be here for your children, family and friends.

“But as an independent charity, we can't survive without your help, so please think about supporting this event, having some fun, and ensuring that advice and support remains free to all.”

Tickets for the event – which takes place at the Grosvenor Ballroom in Wallasey at 3pm on September 5 – are available from any Wirral CAB office at a cost of £7.50.

All proceeds will go towards supporting the CAB. A raffle will also be held on the day.