A CHARITY which offers free counselling to the bereaved is facing closure because of a lack of funds.

Bereavement Care, based in Northallerton, helped 52 people in the past year alone.

It was set up 15 years ago and recently expanded its work into child bereavement, using trained counsellors.

But senior officials have now warned that the service will fold in the coming months, unless funding or sponsorship can be found.

Charity chairman Geoff Davey said the financial deficit was already in the region of £2,000.

"We have been a victim of our own success," he said. "We have never turned anyone away and never asked anyone to pay for the help they received.

"Now, the situation is looking very grim and unless we get more help immediately, we will have to close.

"Even though we are a small, local charity we still need to raise £8,000 a year just to meet day-to-day running costs.

"We desperately need people to come forward to help us with our fundraising and collections.

"Sponsorship from a business, for anything from the phoneline to the insurance premiums we pay, would be wonderful."

People are referred to the charity by undertakers, hospitals and doctors. They ring a helpline and then receive a home visit from a counsellor, who will advise and listen to them for as long as they want.

The volunteer counsellors are highly trained, but receive no pay for the work they do.

Mr Davey said the feedback they receive shows the service can be very important to people suffering from bereavement.

He added: "Bereavement is a very frightening experience. You may feel that you are totally in control of your life and you suddenly find that there are an awful lot of things that somebody else did, and things that you have got to think about that you never thought about before.

"It is a bewildering time."

Anyone who can help with funding is asked to contact Mr Davey, on (01609) 780418, or treasurer David Martin, on (01609) 775534.