A CHARITY may have to dramatically cut its services to disabled people as it faces a cash crisis.

Funding for the Wear Valley Disability Access Forum, which is based in Crook, runs out in March and so far the charity has only managed to get a grant to cover half of its work for the next three years.

The crisis comes after the forum was turned down for a grant that would give them £14,000 a year for the three years.

Anne Cowie, the charity's co-ordinator, said: "We were so sure that we had secured the funding.

"The Community Fund has given us part funding for the next three years and we were relying on another funder for the rest of the money. It looked so good for us but we were turned down two days before Christmas and I have been hurriedly writing away to other organisations to see if they can help us.''

Government Chief Whip and MP for North West Durham, Hilary Armstrong, has vowed to help the forum. She said: "This is disappointing news.

"The group does great work improving quality of life for local disabled people and their families. I will do whatever I can to help them look for alternative funding sources."

The crisis has come at a bad time for the charity, which is assisting small businesses in the area as they try to improve their buildings to comply with the new Disability Discrimination Act, which comes into force in October this year.

Mrs Cowie said: "We have been inundated with calls for help with assessments and we will not be able to do as many if we do not have the funding.''

Dawn Gregory-Smith, Disability Discrimination Advisory Officer for Wear Valley District Council, said that the forum was delivering a vital service.

She said: "I think it will be very very sad if the forum had to cut its services.

"It offers a very professional service which is being called upon throughout the area as people work to meet the demands set by the Disability Discrimination Act.''