A RURAL council has reaffirmed its decision to withdraw funding from a charity that offers a lifeline to vulnerable people.

Teesdale District Council says it can no longer afford to give £7,000 annual funding to the Dales Community Alarm Trust, which provides push-button alarms to 414 people.

At a closed meeting last week, members unanimously reaffirmed the decision.

A report from chief executive Charles Anderson noted the trust's policy was to maintain balances equivalent to a full year's expenditure and Teesdale had been the only district in the county to support the organisation.

Furthermore a one-off grant had recently been made available by Durham County Council, as authority with principal responsibility for social services.

Council chairman, Councillor Ken Hodgson, said: "I fully support the aims and objectives of the trust, but the council's resources are extremely stretched."