BASINGSTOKE launched its own Community Legal Service partnership on Friday to provide help for people with legal problems.

Solicitors, legal advice providers and funders signed up to the partnership at Basingstoke civic offices.

"The broad aim of the partnership is to improve co-ordination between funders and suppliers of legal services," said a council spokesman. "This can be done by clarifying the need for services in Basingstoke and Deane and the development of effective referral systems between suppliers of advice and legal services.

"People with legal problems will be able to rely on the Community Legal Service logo showing where they can obtain quality help and information."

To make it easier for the public to get legal help and advice, the CLS brings together organisations offering legal and advice services into local networks. These networks include solicitors, Citizens' Advice Bureaux, law centres, local authority services, community centres and a host of other organisations.

"These networks are organised and supported by Community Legal Service partnerships which are made up of representatives of the Legal Services Commission, local authorities and other funders and providers of advice," said the spokesman.

"The Community Legal Service was set up by the Government as part of its drive to increase justice for ordinary people - for them to find help easily and feel confident in the quality of service they get from legal providers."

The Legal Services Commission has replaced the old Legal Aid Board and manages the Community Legal Service fund, which replaces civil legal aid.

Neil McDougall of the Legal Service Commission, said: "The Community Legal Service partnership is primarily for civil legal matters - but if a person has a criminal legal problem they will be directed to one of our solicitors who can deal with it."