PEOPLE approaching the Citizens' Advice Bureau in Sheen are being denied the help they need because of a shortage of lawyers, it was claimed this week. The bureau reports a serious lack of housing and employment solicitors signed up to the Community Legal Service in its area.

In a recent report, the CAB said one client was not able to get housing advice because there are insufficient solicitors available and willing to help with warrants of eviction; the family received an eviction warrant and had less than a week to challenge it.

The CAB could not find a legally aided housing solicitor available, and CAB staff had to do their best to intervene on the client's behalf.

The problem is so bad that Sheen often has to refer clients to solicitors as far away as Hounslow, Acton and Streatham.

Although this is generally quite effective, the solicitors often won't take on urgent cases, said the report.

The bureau considers that the major reason that there are not enough Community Legal Service solicitors in the area is that Richmond is a relatively affluent borough, so the government scheme does not provide sufficient contracts, even though there is significant population on benefits.

Sheen CAB also has a shortage of employment lawyers, meaning that poor people can be unfairly dismissed without getting proper help.

The National Association of Citizens' Advice Bureaux says the Sheen shortage is an example of the Community Legal Service being in danger of collapse, with various no go areas' where advice is in short supply. The NACAB is submitting a report to the Constitutional Affairs Select Committee.

chaired by Alan Beith MP, which is to examine civil justice and the legal services market.