STAFF and trustees of a neighbourhood law centre are taking on a challenge of a different kind as they try to raise money to help pay for free legal advice for those who cannot afford it.

Cross Street Law Centre in Erith will be taking part in the seventh London Legal sponsored walk after work on May 16.

The 10k walk, which will be led by Master of the Rolls Lord Neuberger, will raise cash to fund legal advice agencies across London and the south east.

With cuts in benefits, redundancies and closures, the demand for legal advice is rising, says Cross Street’s chief executive Kathy Smith, but the funding for centres such as Cross Street has not.

She added: “The people we assist are usually the most vulnerable; those with the most to lose or who can ill afford a drop in salary or hours, or an increase in rent or mortgage.”

The centre deals with housing, debt, employment and discrimination matters and has five full-time staff, nine volunteers and a board of trustees.

Donations to their efforts can be made direct to the law centre or via tinyurl.com/cslcwalk