BUSINESSES in the area will have access to one of the strongest business support agencies in the country with the merger of two local Business Links.

The Chamber of Commerce Herefordshire and Worcestershire has delivered the government's Business Link services, including the Business Advisory and Business Start-up Services, since 1997.

Now it has been decided to merge Business Link Herefordshire and Worcestershire with Business Link Shropshire, to create a stronger, more regionally representative business support agency.

Together they will be known as Business Link West Mercia.

Christine Jones, chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce and Business Link Herefordshire and Worcestershire, said: "By merging with Shropshire Business Link we can ensure we remain one of the strongest business support agencies in the West Midlands region."

Business Link West Mercia will specialise in Rural Economic Development and concentrate on smaller enterprises.

Mrs Jones said the new arrangements, which will see the two Business Links merge on April 1, would not affect the Chamber of Commerce itself, funded by members' subscriptions.

She added: "The Chamber of Commerce Herefordshire and Worcestershire will continue to run as before and remain a separate entity, run by its 2,000-plus members."

As part of the overall regional consolidation the Chamber of Commerce will move its main office to new premises on Warndon Business Park, Worcester, having sold its current offices, Enterprise House, to Sanctuary Housing. The Chamber of Commerce offices in Hereford and Redditch will remain where they are, in Holmer Road and Crossgate Road respectively .