AN initiative to help long-term unemployed back into work is to expand into Caldicot and Chepstow.

The Centre for Business in conjunction with Job Centre Plus, is looking for suitable venues in both towns at which they can launch Enterprise Clubs.

The idea is to encourage unemployed people to see self-employment as a viable route off benefits and into financial independence.

The scheme has been launched in five other Welsh towns and has already helped 60 people to start up on their own.

A spokesman said the clubs provided an opportunity for anyone who had claimed job seeker's allowance for more than six months and had an interest in self-employment to receive support and to work through business ideas.

The Centre for Business is also able to offer subsidised training and one-to-one mentoring as part of its Welsh Government funding as well as advice and support about self-employment.