THE amount of help offered to crime victims will be cut unless Victim Support can attract more volunteers in County Durham.

The warning came at the charity's annual meeting at Durham County Hall.

The support organisation's training and development manager, Gail Murphy, said that without the help of additional volunteers, the organisation's future levels of service might have to be curtailed.

"A great many people are left devastated by crime, and we are the only organisation geared up to help," she said.

Last year, the organisation's 130 volunteers assisted more than 16,000 victims and nearly 3,000 witnesses.

They provide services including home visits to victims, providing help to complete compensation and insurance claims, attending court hearings and offering crime prevention advice.

No previous experience is necessary to become a volunteer, and the organisation provides full training.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer is asked to telephone 0191-383 9946.