The Co-operative is to offer legal services through its high street bank branches.

The initiative is being pioneered by The Co-operative Legal Services (CLS), which has teamed up with its sister organisation, The Co-operative Financial Services (CFS), in order to assess how legal advice can be delivered through selected Britannia branches.

Three Bristol-based branches are taking part in the pilot scheme over the next two weeks and will offer free legal advice to consumers who drop-in and to those who want an appointment.

CLS will then formulate its future strategy following analysis of the results.

Eddie Ryan, managing director of CLS, said: “Later this year the Legal Services Act will radically change the way in which solicitor services are delivered in England and Wales.