A FURNITURE project offering a lifeline to people in crisis could fold without new volunteers.

A meeting next Monday will decide the future of the Sedgefield and District Furniture Scheme, which has operated for 20 years.

Organisers take up to 20 calls a week from people wanting chairs, sofas, tables, beds and other items which are either given or sold cheaply.

Everything is stored in a depot on the Aycliffe Industrial Estate and the scheme has its own van for deliveries.

But chairman, Canon Bill Broad, said yesterday that the axe will fall unless new volunteers comes forward.

He said: "We desperately need people to drive and lift. We have plenty of people who need our help but we can't pay for staff because we haven't any money.

"Families turn to us if they are suddenly rehoused, which happens to a lot of people, or if they have problems with hire purchase. For a minimal sum we can deliver a complete houseful.

"If we don't get the support we need, the scheme must fold and that would be a shame."

The meeting is in St Clare's Church, Newton Aycliffe, at 8pm. Canon Broad can be contacted on (01325) 313613.