Churches are getting together to open an Ilkley branch of a credit union in a bid to help local people with money management.

Churches Together in Ilkley (CTI) says it will work with Bradford District Credit Union to help stop the growth of payday loans as it opens an Ilkley branch of the credit union on May 7.

The collection point will be at Christchurch, on The Grove.

CTI, an organisation which brings together all the churches in the town, explained that a credit union is an ethical savings and loan company run by and for people who live and work in Bradford district.

The organisation says it is an easy way to save, have access to affordable loans and obtain help with budgeting.

Churches Together last year established foodbank collection points in Ilkley, to help people both in town and further afield who are in poverty, after hearing statistics on local people who are struggling.

The credit union collection point will be open between 10am and noon on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Anyone who wants to join can fill in an application form and sign up at Christchurch, providing two forms of identification – one should have a signature and one should have proof of address.

The forms are then sent to head office and a membership card and welcome pack will be sent to the applicant.

The process usually takes about a week.

Children are able to join with an adult as a trustee.

There is a budget “jam jar” account to help manage finances.

Ilkley Parish Council recently granted a £350 award for a new computer and printer to get the scheme up and running in Ilkley.