Online help for gambling addicts

Gamblers Anonymous also hopes to save money under the scheme

Gambling addicts in Dumfries and Galloway are to receive counselling sessions through the internet.

The move by the charity Gamblers Anonymous aims to help people living in rural areas address their problem.

It plans to roll out Skype, which allows phone calls to be made free over the web, into the homes of addicts in the region.

The nearest Gamblers Anonymous meeting to Dumfries and Galloway at the moment is held in Carlisle.

But under the new scheme, to be launched later in 2007, gamblers in rural communities can virtually attend counselling sessions.

'Poor links'

Gamblers Anonymous has seen the number of addicts attending their self-help groups across the country double in the past 12 months.

However, many residents in outlying communities with poor transport links or those who are housebound or have no car, cannot reach the meetings.

The organisation is to buy 50 internet telephones, allowing people to take part in sessions with as many as 12 other addicts which will be chaired by a senior volunteer at a central location, such as Edinburgh or Inverness.

It is also hoped that replacing the current system of landline telephone conferencing could save the charity thousands of pounds in the long term.