BARNSLEY'S welfare rights advice team is facing closure after its entire workforce was given redundancy notices.

If the department closes it could leave thousands of the borough's neediest residents to fend for themselves - and potentially miss out on benefits they are entitled to.

Unions say the department employs 14 workers offering benefits advice. They are among 318 council staff facing the axe because their jobs are paid for by external funding from Europe - which is now coming to an end. Among them are 14 manual workers, 218 administration staff, 32 professionals and 54 managerial posts, unions say.

The news has been met with dismay and one councillor claims the prospect is unimaginable.

Unison represents many of the welfare rights team - which includes several workers who only transferred to the department about two months ago.

Convener Gail Hobson said: "We are concerned because it appears some of the post-holders were not aware their job was paid for by external funding.

"I'm hoping we can find some alternative funding for our members."

Mrs Hobson said some of the staff had moved from another council department and thought they had a job for life. Now they have been told their jobs are among those at risk.